With only 41 days left until Election Day, more and more scenarios are being speculated as to who will become the next president and exactly which states will go to which candidate. One possible outcome, though it’s rare, could be an Electoral College tie. 

If a tie were to occur in the Electoral College the results would then be determined by the House of Representatives. However, in a vote for President as opposed to a regular House vote the individual House members will not be awarded one vote apiece, instead, each state will receive a vote. This means that though California has 53 members, the state would only have one vote to cast for the presidency. This would ultimately give smaller states more influence on the presidential election.

The deadlock could only happen if each candidate received 269 electoral votes. Looking back on the 2016 presidential election Trump won 306 electoral votes compared to Hillary Clinton’s 232. A tie would result only if Trump were to lose exactly 37 electoral votes.

What happens if the House isn’t able to generate a result for the presidential election?

The process will then move to the Senate. Unlike in the House, each Senate member will still hold his or her individual vote. The Senate is responsible for electing the Vice President. If the Senate reaches a majority vote, the Vice President would be sworn in and become Acting President until the Electoral College majority for president is settled.

Though the chances of an Electoral College tie are unlikely, it is mathematically possible.