Romney gets the White House if the election is a tie ...

[Kyle Ricky]

I am listening to my local conservative talk radio station (http://www.wpgb.com/main.html) and it was said that if the election is a tie, since the Republicans have more delegates, Romney will win. Can you see the lawsuit if that happens? I sure can.

[Zeus]

I am listening to my local conservative talk radio station (http://www.wpgb.com/main.html) and it was said that if the election is a tie, since the Republicans have more delegates, Romney will win. Can you see the lawsuit if that happens? I sure can.

Constitutionally if the Electoral college is a tie then it goes to the US HOR's to be decided. Sure than can launch a blizzard of lawsuits but I don't see any chance of them accomplishing anything.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

I am listening to my local conservative talk radio station (http://www.wpgb.com/main.html) and it was said that if the election is a tie, since the Republicans have more delegates, Romney will win. Can you see the lawsuit if that happens? I sure can.

And let's say it's a tie: if we don't win the senate or it's a 50-50 split on January 3rd, when the new congress is seated, the vice presidency is decided in the senate.  We could theoretically see Pres. Romney and Vice President Biden.

[Kyle Ricky]

And let's say it's a tie: if we don't win the senate or it's a 50-50 split on January 3rd, when the new congress is seated, the vice presidency is decided in the senate.  We could theoretically see Pres. Romney and Vice President Biden.

So we would have a 1780's style President and Vice President. When the winner was the President and loser was the Vice President.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

So we would have a 1780's style President and Vice President. When the winner was the President and loser was the Vice President.

Sort of.  In the 1780's, there was no vice presidential slot on the ballot.  Whoever got the most EVs was president, second most was Vice President.  With a 269-269 tie, the presidency is decided in the House (I think on a state by state basis, each state's delegation counting as a vote). 

The vice presidency in his situation would be decided by the senate, seperate from the House.  Could you imagine what would happen if the president and the Vice President came from different parties?

[Kyle Ricky]

Sort of.  In the 1780's, there was no vice presidential slot on the ballot.  Whoever got the most EVs was president, second most was Vice President.  With a 269-269 tie, the presidency is decided in the House (I think on a state by state basis, each state's delegation counting as a vote). 

The vice presidency in his situation would be decided by the senate, seperate from the House.  Could you imagine what would happen if the president and the Vice President came from different parties?

I never knew about the tie issues. You learn something new everyday.

[franksolich]

I am listening to my local conservative talk radio station (http://www.wpgb.com/main.html) and it was said that if the election is a tie, since the Republicans have more delegates, Romney will win. Can you see the lawsuit if that happens? I sure can.

In case of a tie in the electoral college vote, it goes to the House, to select the president.

In which case there's 50 votes, one vote for each state; votes from all-Republican House delegations would naturally go to the (R) candidate, and the same for all-Democrat House delegations, to the (D).

States that have congressmen from both parties, well, the party that has the most members determines that state's vote.

A House delegation of five (R) congressmen and four (D) congressmen would naturally vote 5-4 to give that state's vote to the (R) candidate, and the opposite same with a state with a majority of (D) congressmen, to the (D) candidate.

There's 50 votes, each state having one.

[Kyle Ricky]

In case of a tie in the electoral college vote, it goes to the House, to select the president.

In which case there's 50 votes, one vote for each state; votes from all-Republican House delegations would naturally go to the (R) candidate, and the same for all-Democrat House delegations, to the (D).

States that have congressmen from both parties, well, the party that has the most members determines that state's vote.

A House delegation of five (R) congressmen and four (D) congressmen would naturally vote 5-4 to give that state's vote to the (R) candidate, and the opposite same with a state with a majority of (D) congressmen, to the (D) candidate.

There's 50 votes, each state having one.

Yeah, the way he explained it, I kinda got that part. He was saying that since the Repulicans have a majority, it would go to Rommey. Which would be about right?

[franksolich]

Yeah, the way he explained it, I kinda got that part. He was saying that since the Repulicans have a majority, it would go to Rommey. Which would be about right?

Not necessarily.

It depends upon how many states are dominated by (R) congressmen.

[Kyle Ricky]

Not necessarily.

It depends upon how many states are dominated by (R) congressmen.

So it doesn't matter if there is a Repub majority then. It is based on each state. Thanks for the info, Frank and WinOne4TheGipper. I learned something new tonight.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Not necessarily.

It depends upon how many states are dominated by (R) congressmen.

I don't know a state by state breakdown (and it would be the next congress that would do this, anyway), but I assume that Republicans probably have a majority of state delegations.

[YupItsMe]

I didn't know it was handled like a "mini electoral college".  I thought it was just the "popular vote" in the House. Boy is my wife going to be surprised when she learns I don't know everything 

[franksolich]

I don't know a state by state breakdown (and it would be the next congress that would do this, anyway), but I assume that Republicans probably have a majority of state delegations.

I dunno.  Last I checked, it was the (D)s who held the majority in the majority of House delegations.

But that was several years ago.

In this case, it needs pointed out that the least-populated state, Wyoming, has exactly the same clout as the most-populated state, California; one vote each.  I imagine the primitives would go berserk over that.

But that's the rule.  Too bad for the primitives.

[franksolich]

I just checked.

I erred; currently, Republicans control 33 of the 50 House delegations, Democrats 16.

I dunno the one exception, nor anything about 5 vacancies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives

^^^about three-quarters the way down a very long page.

This can all change in a hurry, though, every two years.  As I mentioned, some years ago (I think November 2000) when I checked, Democrats even though the minority party in the House at the time, controlled the majority of House delegations, and would've naturally selected Alphonse Capote Gore as president.

[franksolich]

I just checked; my, how things have changed the past twelve years.

With each state having one vote, this is how it'd go at present--it could of course change with the elections next month.

Alabama (6-1 Republican)
Alaska (1-0 Republican)
Arizona (5-3 Republican)
Arkansas (3-1 Republican)
Colorado (4-3 Republcan)
Florida (19-6 Republican)
Georgia (8-5 Republican)
Idaho (2-0 Republican)
Illinois (11-8 Republican)
Indiana (6-3 Republican)
Kansas (4-0 Republican)
Louisiana (6-1 Republican)
Michigan (8-6 Republican)
Mississippi (3-1 Republican)
Missouri (6-3 Republican)
Montana (1-0 Republican)
Nebraska (3-0 Republican)
Nevada (2-1 Republican)
New Hampshire (2-0 Republican)
North Dakota (1-0 Republican)
Ohio (13-5 Republican)
Oklahoma (4-1 Republican)
Pennsylvania (12-7 Republican)
South Carolina (5-1 Republican)
South Dakota (1-0 Republican)
Tennessee (7-2 Republican)
Texas (23-9 Republican)
Utah (2-1 Republican)
Virginia (8-3 Republican)
West Virginia (2-1 Republican)
Wisconsin (5-3 Republican)
Wyoming (1-0 Republican)

California (34-19 Democrat)
Connecticut (5-0 Democrat)
Delaware (1-0 Democrat)
Hawaii (2-0 Democrat)
Iowa (3-2 Democrat)
Maine (2-0 Democrat)
Maryland (6-2 Democrat)
Massachusetts (10-0 Democrat)
New Mexico (2-1 Democrat)
New York (21-8 Democrat)
North Carolina (7-6 Democrat)
Oregon (4-1 Democrat)
Rhode Island (2-0 Democrat)
Vermont (1-0 Democrat)
Washington (5-4 Democrat)

The ones that'd be up for grabs:

Kentucky (3-2 Republican, one vacant seat)
Minnesota (4-4 split)
New Jersey (6-6 split, one vacant seat)

Under the present House the count would be 32 votes for Romney, 15 for Barack Milhous, and 3 up in the air.

But it'd be the new House, the one elected next month, that decides.

[Kyle Ricky]

Wow, Frank, thanks! I checked also, and the Republicans have a Majority and the Dems have a minority - Eric Cantor is the Majority Leader, and Nancy Pelosi is the Minority Leader. It appears that the Republicans do have more. So if it is a tie, Romney would get it; and the lawsuits would fly. Booya!

[franksolich]

Wow, Frank, thanks! I checked also, and the Republicans have a Majority and the Dems have a minority - Eric Cantor is the Majority Leader, and Nancy Pelosi is the Minority Leader. It appears that the Republicans do have more. So if it is a tie, Romney would get it; and the lawsuits would fly. Booya!

But if it had been in 2000, when the Republicans also controlled the House, it would've been different.

That was twelve years ago, and so I don't recall the details, other than that in 2000, the Republicans controlled only 17 House delegations, the Democrats the rest.

I think this change the past twelve years occurred because a lot of small states with one, two, or three congressmen--such as North Dakota--changed from (D) to (R), and a lot of southern states still had (D)-controlled delegations, but now that too's changed.

I'm surprised at the erosion of (R) congressmen in New York since 2000; that's got to be changed.

[BigTex]

Wow, Frank, thanks! I checked also, and the Republicans have a Majority and the Dems have a minority - Eric Cantor is the Majority Leader, and Nancy Pelosi is the Minority Leader. It appears that the Republicans do have more. So if it is a tie, Romney would get it; and the lawsuits would fly. Booya!

luckily the tie scenarios arent that likely

[Evil_Conservative]

There is no way in the world that this election will tie.

[franksolich]

There is no way in the world that this election will tie.

Right, the odds are Powerball odds.

But it's fun to speculate.

[BigTex]

But if it had been in 2000, when the Republicans also controlled the House, it would've been different.

That was twelve years ago, and so I don't recall the details, other than that in 2000, the Republicans controlled only 17 House delegations, the Democrats the rest.

the house elected in 2000 had 29 republican majority states

[franksolich]

the house elected in 2000 had 29 republican majority states

But I recall looking up the House elected in 1998, not 2000, as this was before the election of 2000.

[BigTex]

But I recall looking up the House elected in 1998, not 2000, as this was before the election of 2000.

the house elected in 1998 wouldnt matter for choosing the president but I know what you mean that you could have a majority in the house but not that state majority.

also the 1998 house had 25 republican state majorities

[franksolich]

the house elected in 1998 wouldnt matter for choosing the president but I know what you mean that you could have a majority in the house but not that state majority.

also the 1998 house had 25 republican state majorities

Well then, the memory's flawed, but I recall being very concerned, and thought that was why.

The point I'm trying to make is the one you stated--you could have a majority in the house but not that state majority [in the majority of states]--because there seemed this misconception that the majority party controls a majority of the state delegations.

[Kyle Ricky]

I can remember in Junior high when my civics teacher was saying that the Dems had a majority control of the house for 40 years?

Edit: The Dems controlled the House from 1955 to 1993. The Republicans from 1995 - 2005. The Dems again from 2007 - 2009...and then Republicans from 2010 - now

Here is the chart -> http://www.dflorig.com/partycontrol.htm