Anarchy

[OSUFan]

What if no one voted for either presidential candidate? Is there anything in the Constitution to provide for such an occurence? Just curious.

[legelegel]

What would happen if two candidates tied in a State's popular vote, or there was a dispute as to the winner?


A tie is a statistically remote possibility even in smaller States. But if a State's popular vote were to come out as a tie between candidates, State law would govern as to what procedure would be followed in breaking the tie. A tie would not be known of until late November or early December, after a recount and after the Secretary of State had certified the election results. Federal law would allow a State to hold a run-off election.

A very close finish could also result in a run-off election or legal action to decide the winner. Under Federal law (3 U.S.C. section 5), State law governs on this issue, and would be conclusive in determining the selection of Electors. The law provides that if States have laws to determine controversies or contests as to the selection of Electors, those determinations must be completed six days prior to the day the Electors meet.



What happens if no presidential candidate gets 270 electoral votes?

If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the 3 Presidential candidates who received the most electoral votes. Each State delegation has one vote. The Senate would elect the Vice President from the 2 Vice Presidential candidates with the most electoral votes. Each Senator would cast one vote for Vice President. If the House of Representatives fails to elect a President by Inauguration Day, the Vice-President Elect serves as acting President until the deadlock is resolved in the House.

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html#270

[GoPokes83]

Is the electoral college tied in any way to the popular vote? I've been wrong enough times to fill a few libraries and this may be one of them, but wouldn't the E.C. still elect the president?

Of course even in the event of pandemic rationality Obama would still win anyway, because there's NO WAY Oprah's vote will not be counted. She's a National Treasure and will not be ignored. So even if no one shows up it's still Obama 1 - McCain 0. There will also be a negative 17 votes for whoever the Libertarian Party throws under the bus this time just to teach those pesky third parties a lesson.

[legelegel]

Is the electoral college tied in any way to the popular vote? I've been wrong enough times to fill a few libraries and this may be one of them, but wouldn't the E.C. still elect the president?

Of course even in the event of pandemic rationality Obama would still win anyway, because there's NO WAY Oprah's vote will not be counted. She's a National Treasure and will not be ignored. So even if no one shows up it's still Obama 1 - McCain 0. There will also be a negative 17 votes for whoever the Libertarian Party throws under the bus this time just to teach those pesky third parties a lesson.

The national popular vote has no affect on the Electoral College, since the United States does not hold national elections.

[legelegel]

Bill Clinton's 43.0% of the popular vote in 1992 was the lowest since Woodrow Wilson's 41.8% in 1912. Two of many disappointing Presidents.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

I'm looking for a "None of the Above 2008" bumper sticker.

[legelegel]

I'm looking for a "None of the Above 2008" bumper sticker.

Do you have a write-in candidate that you would suggest?

Wait, I'm sure that type of vote would be worthless effort for you too.

[FloridaPoke]

I'm looking for a "None of the Above 2008" bumper sticker.

Electile Dysfunction

[Verb]

Electile Dysfunction

Hahaha!

[osutuba]

Is the electoral college tied in any way to the popular vote? I've been wrong enough times to fill a few libraries and this may be one of them, but wouldn't the E.C. still elect the president?

Of course even in the event of pandemic rationality Obama would still win anyway, because there's NO WAY Oprah's vote will not be counted. She's a National Treasure and will not be ignored. So even if no one shows up it's still Obama 1 - McCain 0. There will also be a negative 17 votes for whoever the Libertarian Party throws under the bus this time just to teach those pesky third parties a lesson.
As a Libertarian, I am offended by that remark. The Constitution does not restrict elections to only two parties. If they wanted to, a Communist or Socialist or even Nazi can run (hold off the jokes referring to any current or previous major party candidates being members of the aforementioned parties, please).

IIRC, There have been third-party Presidents in the past (Whig Party, anyone?).

[FWPoke]

As a Libertarian, I am offended by that remark. The Constitution does not restrict elections to only two parties. If they wanted to, a Communist or Socialist or even Nazi can run (hold off the jokes referring to any current or previous major party candidates being members of the aforementioned parties, please).

IIRC, There have been third-party Presidents in the past (Whig Party, anyone?).

I'm pretty sure he was being facetious. Of course third party candidates can run. They have every right to get their asses handed to them year after year.

[bleedorange]

As a Libertarian, I am offended by that remark. The Constitution does not restrict elections to only two parties. If they wanted to, a Communist or Socialist or even Nazi can run (hold off the jokes referring to any current or previous major party candidates being members of the aforementioned parties, please).

IIRC, There have been third-party Presidents in the past (Whig Party, anyone?).

He wasn't saying anything about a third party not being allowed. He was just referring to the current state of affairs where the the third party has 0% chance.

[osutuba]

He wasn't saying anything about a third party not being allowed. He was just referring to the current state of affairs where the the third party has 0% chance.
I stand corrected.

And that is a great point. In some states, it takes up 10 times the number of signatures required to get a Rep. or Dem. on the ballot in order to get a third-party candidate recognized on the ballot. During the Libertarian National Convention this year, one state's spokesperson said it took nearly 100K sigs to get the Libertarian party on the ballot, while other parties required only 10K

[bleedorange]

I stand corrected.

And that is a great point. In some states, it takes up 10 times the number of signatures required to get a Rep. or Dem. on the ballot in order to get a third-party candidate recognized on the ballot. During the Libertarian National Convention this year, one state's spokesperson said it took nearly 100K sigs to get the Libertarian party on the ballot, while other parties required only 10K

Frankly, I don't think that's the biggest hurdle. They could voluntarily put a Lib's name on every single ballot and they still wouldn't get any vote. We are creatures of habit, and getting the voting public to even acknowledge a third name on the ballot is going to be an uphill battle.

[GoPokes83]

If there were a viable 3rd party, one made up of non-traditional politicians who would put common sense ahead of the "Rep. vs Dem above all else" BS we have now I think it would reinvigorate American politics and the country as a whole.

I love a lot of the ideals of the Libertarian party, but true Libertarians are almost anarchistic in their beliefs, and that small, small minority of crackpots has soiled the sheets of the Libertarian party's bed as far as most of America is concerned. We need to find a central party where true problems are addressed, not just liberal or conservative. Most people aren't hard core on either point, but need to be if they want to be electable by the two party system we're stuck with now. I mean with all the problems we have as a country and while our kids are dying in two wars the only thing the Democrat and Republican party's seem to care about are (compared to the big problems we have) the inconsequential matters of how their candidates feel about abortion or gay marriage.... I don't want my Federal Government to specialize in social engineering. Just protect our borders, pave my highways, make decent two way trade treaties with other governments, give the hard working taxpayers a square deal, make those who can work but wont stop draining our economy and earn a living , use our military strength judiciously and for the greater good, and let us alone. We'll do fine fending for ourselves. Where's THAT party. I'd join up in a second.