Sunday, October 25, 2020

Contingent Election

U.S. Presidential election is on November 3.  Electoral College votes on December 14.

This year, because of corona-virus , millions of citizens  have requested for mail-in absentee ballot.  The post office which is supposed to deliver to the homes these mail-in absentee ballots has said they will not be able to deliver them on time before the November 3 election day.

Therefore it is potentially difficult to declare a sure winner on November 3.  The Electoral College  may not be able to select the winner.  Even if there is a winner, the loser will likely go to the Supreme Court.

What if there is a deadlock?  There will be a Contingent Election.

The newly elected House of Representatives will vote for the President.  Here is the tricky situation.  Each State has one vote irrespective of number of congressman from each state*.  Therefore 50 votes for 50 States. Whoever gets 26 votes will be declared winner.  Right now Republicans have majority in 26 States.  If this continues  after the election also, Trump will be declared as a winner.

The Vice President will be elected by the Senate.  Each Senator has one vote.  There are 100 Senators.  Who ever gets 51 votes will be declared as Vice President.

If the Democrats win the Senate, they will elect Kamala Harris as Vice President.  It will be interesting, fun, and a big entertainment if Donald Trump becomes President and Kamala Harris becomes Vice President.

* California has 53 House of Representatives.  Vermont has 1 House of Representative.  But they both have 1 vote in the Contingent Election.

Posted by at

12 comments:

  1. DeeOctober 25, 2020 at 8:26 PM

    That definitely will be an interesting combo.....and i didn't know this could happen....Now I am curious how this will turn out....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGOctober 25, 2020 at 8:43 PM

      Thanks for your comments Dee. I am curious too.

      Delete
  2. GOWRISHANKAROctober 26, 2020 at 4:34 AM

    You have made this election interesting for the entire world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGOctober 26, 2020 at 7:08 AM

      Thanks for your comments Gowri. Yes, this election is interesting.

      Delete
  3. Destination InfinityOctober 26, 2020 at 7:36 PM

    I wonder why online voting is not possible... maybe one day it will...

    Destination Infinity

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGOctober 26, 2020 at 7:54 PM

      Thanks for your comments Rajesh. I am totally against online voting. Lot of opportunities for fraud. I can threaten you in the privacy of your home or give you bribe. Online voting is not a secret voting thingy.

      Delete
  4. Pradeep NairOctober 29, 2020 at 7:22 AM

    Anything is possible post November 3, including what you have projected.

    I don't think there will be any problem if Trump wins. But if Trump loses, then there is going to be real problem. Because I don't know how he will take a defeat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGOctober 29, 2020 at 8:32 AM

      Thanks for your comments Pradeep. As you said, anything is possible.

      Delete
  5. rudraprayagaOctober 30, 2020 at 11:11 PM

    If in the Senate fifty-fifty vote share comes, how will they determine winner? Thank you for the information.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGOctober 31, 2020 at 2:33 AM

      Thanks for your comments Sarala. Good question. If it is 50-50, then the tie breaking vote will be cast by the current Vice President.

      Delete
  6. SandhyaOctober 31, 2020 at 4:58 AM

    Interesting details! 'It will be interesting, fun, and a big entertainment if Donald Trump becomes President and Kamala Harris becomes Vice President.' Kamala cannot be comfortable if this happens. We just discuss at home 'between Trump and Mody' who teaches whom to stay in power! Both of them are power hungry men.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGNovember 1, 2020 at 3:15 PM

      Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Will see what happens.

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)