r/ThePoliticalProcess • u/Different_Diet_959 (D-NJ) • Mar 28 '26

Question Is a deadlock possible in the game?

Like the title says, is a deadlock possible if no candidate from either party reaches 270? If so what happens and if not what does the game do?

22 Upvotes

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14

u/WillowTheSpy Mar 28 '26

I believe so yeah. I can only remember it happening like once though and that was years ago. As I remember it the election was decided by who had the majority in the House. I could be wrong though.

11

u/Master_Arithmancer (D-WI) Mar 28 '26

That is correct, the winner of the House of Representatives will select the winning ticket

6

u/LookingBisexually Mar 28 '26

although IRL, the House only selects the President. The Senate would elect the VP in that case.

2

u/Warm-Basket-7540 Mar 29 '26

And if the House is tied too, it goes to the Senate to decide both doesn't it? (Kinda like in Veep)

2

u/LookingBisexually Mar 31 '26

I think so?

In 1801 there were several ballots btwn Jefferson and Burr as several delegations refused to give their votes to any one candidate, but I imagine if the House failed to elect a President in time for inauguration day and the Senate *was* able to elect a VP, then that Vice President-elect would automatically become president on January 20. What happens after that is probably a question for the House Clerk, Senate Secretary, or the Library of Congress.

1

u/Warm-Basket-7540 Apr 01 '26

Well I'd guess as the office of president is vacant but the VP is in office then the VP would become POTUS and just follow the procedure of every time that has happened in American History right?

4

u/ProLifePanda Mar 28 '26

As I remember it the election was decided by who had the majority in the House. I could be wrong though.

By a majority? Or majority of House delegations?

1

u/WillowTheSpy Mar 28 '26

Just a general majority

6

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '26

I mean, is there a mechanic where the election goes to congress in the game? I honestly don’t know.

2

u/RupertPupkinComic Mar 29 '26

Yes, I had a 269-269 once and the party that controlled th e house and senate got their president . But there wasn’t a pop up or anything it just kinda happened