US election 2024 results: What will happen if there is a tie between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris?

US election 2024 results are likely to be announced in a few hours but exit polls have predicted a tight battle between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Many Democratic Party and Republican Party supporters have apprehensions that the contest between Trump and Harris may be tied, as per a report on Reuters.

In the United States, a candidate becomes president not by winning a majority of the national popular vote but through a system called the Electoral College, which allots electoral votes to the 50 states and the District of Columbia largely based on their population.

When voters go to the polls to pick a president, they usually only see the names of the presidential and vice presidential candidates. However, voters are actually voting for a group — or "slate" — of electors.


Nationally, there are a total of 538 electoral votes, or electors, meaning a candidate needs to secure 270 to win.

Electors are typically party loyalists who pledge to support the candidate who gets the most votes in their state. Each elector represents one vote in the Electoral College.

In 2020, President Joe Biden won 306 electoral votes to defeat Trump, who had 232 electoral votes.

The system, mandated by the U.S. Constitution, was a compromise between the nation's founders, who debated whether the president should be picked by Congress or through a popular vote.

What Happens If US Election 2024 Results Declare a Tie?

One of the flaws of the system is that it can theoretically produce a 269-269 tie. If that occurs, a newly elected House of Representatives would decide the fate of the presidency on January 6, with each state voting as a unit, as required by the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. Minnesota and North Carolina are tied between Democratic and Republican members.

FAQs

Q1. When will US election results be declared?
A1. US election results will be declared after counting that commences on Tuesday night, November 5.

Q2. How many electoral votes are there?
A2. There are a total of 538 electoral votes.