What happens if there is a tie in a national election?
When it comes to a national election, the outcome of a tie is very rare. If a tie were to occur, the United States Senate and House of Representatives would decide the winner. This particular process has happened only twice in United States history. In the event of a tie, it is the responsibility of the US Congress to decide who will be elected as the president. This is done through a vote of the entire Congress. Each House gets one vote, and the candidate who wins the most votes is declared the winner. In Massachusetts, the ties are broken in the same manner. The General Court, which is the body of elected representatives from across the state, decides the outcome of the election. Each representative casts a vote and a majority vote will decide who is elected. It is important to note that in Massachusetts, the General Court does not have the power to overturn the results of the election; it simply decides the outcome of a tie. The only exception is in cases where it can be proven that there was voter fraud or an error in tabulation. In these cases, the legislature can decide to re-run the election.
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