Nightmare scenario for election bettors: electoral push

VOLTITAN · Oct 20, 2004

Yes folks, there is a real possibility of a Bush 269-Kerry 269.

It would then be decided by....(who paid attention in civics class in school)....believe it or not the U.S. House of Rep./ Congress. No doubt the books would grade it as a push no matter who Congress put in, and they would collect their juice. Also I feel that if it goes to the U.S. Supreme Ct. again such as in 2000 the books would grade this as a push also. Maybe some 2000 bettors can enlighten me? Interesting scenarios though.

wilheim · Oct 20, 2004

All personal sentiment aside. I believe that whichever candidate is inaugurated in January will get the money regardless of the process involved getting there. In a scenario like the one you describe it may take a while but a winner will emerge.

wil.

ChuckSims · Oct 20, 2004

When a bet is graded as a push, the books do not collect juice. If it goes to the U.S. Supreme Ct. like it did in 2000 the books would grade whomever is declared the winner. Your scenario on a 269-269 tie is an interesting one. The odds are heavy against it because many states would have to fall a certain way for that to happen. The books would either call it no action or wait until a winner is declared. If it goes to the House, Bush wins because the Republicans control the House.

JayC · Oct 20, 2004

Go to the latimes.com site, click on their electoral map and you can put in the red and blue states as you see fit.

Give Kerry the following states (and all the others to W) and you have a tie:
HI, CA, OR, WA, NM, MN, WI, OH, PA, NY, NJ, MI, IL, VT, DE, MD, DC, CT, RI, MA

There's yout tie, not an impossible scenario

Dante · Oct 20, 2004

now that would be something!

ppeter · Oct 20, 2004

The electoral college system is a travesty. It is a vestage of colonial days when the county could not pay for, nor accurately keep account of, a nationwide popular vote. In modern times, it has morphed into paid junkets for big donors and other politicos. It cost Gore the presidency in 2000 and it may just cost Kerry the same this year. It is high time the constitution is amended to abolish this archeic, unneccessary and UNDEMOCRATIC system. :mad:

KennyB · Oct 20, 2004

First off the electoral college is not "undemocratic". The USA is an alliance of 50 states; each state has some individuality and the framers wanted to make sure that each states vote counted. Sounds familiar huh?

Most sportsbooks that are offering "the party to win the 2004 presidential election" (taken from Pinnacle). Under your scenario the Republican party would win the election. I don't see how the book could grade this as a push or cancel the bet.