A close election could result in litigation over voting and ballot-counting procedures in battleground states. In 2016, Trump lost the national popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton but secured 304 electoral votes to her 227. The candidate who wins each state’s popular vote typically earns that state’s electors. ‘CONTINGENT ELECTION’A determination that neither candidate has secured a majority of electoral votes would trigger a “contingent election” under the 12th Amendment of the Constitution. A contingent election also takes place in the event of a 269-269 tie after the election; there are several plausible paths to a deadlock in 2020.

Source: dna November 04, 2020 10:40 UTC