Electoral Map

So I was playing around with the electoral calculator on the New York Times website and to my suprise I got it to add up to 269 electoral votes for each candidate. I didn't realize that could happen! What happens if it works out like that (probably not very likely but it could)?

There was an article on CNN.com a few days ago about this woman who had figured out exactly how many combinations could make that happen...I believe it was around 200. I myself got it to happen a few times on the PBS site map (basically the same as the NYT one) by giving New Jersey to Bush.

Thanks James. I think I found it.
CNN Article
It we had an electoral college tie, the House would President and the Senate would pick the VP. Man that would be a mess! The scary thing is that the Red Sox won the world series so I guess anything could happen.

It would never come to the house or senate in my opinion.

At the time of election electoral votes are divided up amongst the canidates from for each state they won. Those electoral votes aren't enacted until they are cast in January. Each person that holds an electoral vote in a state can vote any way they wish with that vote and if it came down to a tie you can bet there will be pressure tactics used to sway those electoral votes.

Heh, I was very off...it's only 17 ways it could occur. And even then, as Talen just said, there would be a lot of pressure on the electors to change their votes to get rid of that tie.

Wouldn't it be really weird if we had a Republican President and a Democratic Vice President or the other way around?

Yes, yes it would. At least, we'd all feel a bit better....