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Analysis: What happens if there’s a tie in 2024? Be ready for a ‘contingent election’ | CNN Politics

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If there’s a 269 -269 tie, or a third party or independent candidate wins electoral votes and keeps a candidate from reaching an Electoral College majority of 270 , the next step is a “contingent election’ According to the 12th Amendment, if no candidate gets a majority of the Electoral College votes, the new Congress , which would have just been sworn in on January 3 , chooses the president.

In a contingent election, the House selects the president and the Senate selects the vice president.

In 1800 election, a rematch of 1796 , Jefferson ’s Democratic-Republicans beat incumbent President and Federalist John Adams .

It took 36 rounds of voting to finally elect Jefferson .

In 1824 , multiple candidates got votes in the Electoral College but none of them received a majority, triggering a contingent election.

Another contingent election occurred with the 1836 race, but just for vice president.