What happens if there's a tie in the 2024 presidential election

As Americans cast their votes in the 2024 presidential election, a nail-biting scenario looms with the possibility - albeit slim.

But with the run-up to this election being one of the most unprecedented in history - with assassination attempts, a sitting president standing down, and a new Democratic presidential nominee named - anything could happen.

Either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will be named as the next POTUS. Credit: Mario Tama / Getty

So, what would happen in the event of an Electoral College tie between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump?

This political cliffhanger could see both candidates locked at 269 votes each, just one shy of the 270 needed to clinch the presidency.

So, what is the Electoral College?

It’s the system set by the U.S. Constitution for selecting the president and vice president every four years. Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives, with an additional three electors from the District of Columbia, as granted by the 23rd Amendment.

This makes up a total of 538 electors, hence the possibility of a 269-269 split.

Americans all over the nation are casting their votes. Credit: Drew Angerer / Getty

Historic Precedents and Hypothetical Scenarios

The idea of an Electoral College tie isn’t just theoretical. The history books show us that in 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ended up in a tie, thrusting the decision into the House of Representatives, which chose Jefferson as president.

More recently, in 1824, no candidate secured a majority, leading to John Quincy Adams being selected as president by the House, despite Andrew Jackson having won more electoral votes.

Today, potential pathways to a 269-269 tie could arise if Trump captures key "Blue Wall" states along with a couple of others like Georgia or North Carolina, while Harris holds onto states like Wisconsin and flips Arizona and Nevada.

History will be made. Credit: David Becker / Getty

The Role of the House and the Senate

If the 2024 election results in a tie, the process for breaking it is spelled out in the 12th Amendment.

The newly elected House of Representatives would decide the president, with each state’s delegation having one vote. The majority of 26 is needed to win.

Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, which could favor Trump. However, this could shift depending on the results of the 2024 Congressional elections.

Melania and Donald Trump could be returning to the White House. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty

Simultaneously, the vice president would be chosen by the Senate, where each senator casts one vote. This could potentially lead to the president and vice president being from different parties, a true rarity in American politics.

What’s at Stake?

An Electoral College tie would thrust the U.S. into uncharted political waters, certainly a high-drama end to an already contentious election cycle. It underscores the unique, sometimes controversial, aspects of American electoral mechanics and the ongoing debates surrounding them.

Kamala Harris could be the very first female POTUS in history. Credit: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

As unlikely as it may be, the possibility of a 269-269 tie adds an extra layer of suspense to the 2024 election, reminding voters and candidates alike of the unpredictable nature of politics.

Featured image credit: Getty Images