Can Congress reject electoral college votes?

Under the law, Congress may still reject a state’s electors if both houses decide to do so, but only when they determine either that the appointment of electors was not “lawfully certified” by the governor under the ascertainment process, or that the votes themselves were not “regularly given” by the electors.

What is an election deadlock?

A split vote is normally used synonymously with “deadlocked”, “hung”, or “evenly split” vote. It indicates a vote in which no decision can be made, as neither side has the majority. In systems that require a winning candidate to receive a majority of votes, this may result in a runoff election.

What happens if the electoral vote is not reached?

Presidential election If no candidate for president receives an absolute majority of the electoral votes, pursuant to the 12th Amendment, the House of Representatives is required to go into session immediately to choose a president from among the three candidates who received the most electoral votes.

Can the Electoral College split their votes?

Under the District Method, a State’s electoral votes can be split among two or more candidates, just as a state’s congressional delegation can be split among multiple political parties. As of 2008, Nebraska and Maine are the only states using the District Method of distributing electoral votes.

What happened January 6th?

On January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Many in the crowd broke into the building, occupying, vandalizing, and looting it, assaulting Capitol Police officers and reporters, and attempting to locate lawmakers to capture and harm.

Who composes the Electoral College?

When people cast their vote, they are actually voting for a group of people called electors. The number of electors each state gets is equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress. A total of 538 electors form the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote following the general election.

Why did the Founding Fathers create the Electoral College?

The Electoral College was created by the framers of the U.S. Constitution as an alternative to electing the president by popular vote or by Congress. Several weeks after the general election, electors from each state meet in their state capitals and cast their official vote for president and vice president.

Which states can split electoral votes?

Even though Maine and Nebraska don’t use a winner-take-all system, it is rare for either State to have a split vote. Each has done so once: Nebraska in 2008 and Maine in 2016.

What happens if there is no winner in the Electoral College?

If there is no clear winner in the Electoral College, Congress holds a contingent election . One candidate wins a majority: Congress counts the electoral votes from each state in alphabetical order, with the vice president presiding. A candidate needs a majority of the votes to win.

When is the last day to count electoral votes?

The President of the Senate must have all of the electors’ ballots by the Dec. 23 deadline, though there is no penalty for tardiness. On Jan. 6, a joint session of Congress will convene at 1 p.m. to count the electoral votes.

Did Senate staff save paper electoral college ballots from rioters?

Senate staff saved paper Electoral College ballots before pro-Trump rioters broke into the chamber during a formal count Wednesday, according to a Democratic senator.

What is a state’s electoral college ceremony?

Ceremonies vary from state to state, but all of them follow a similar template. They begin with patriotic traditions, like the Pledge of Allegiance or “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In the past, states with more electors — like New York and Pennsylvania — appointed officers to preside over their electoral colleges.