<P> Additionally, the Twelfth Amendment states a "majority of the whole number" of senators (currently 51 of 100) is necessary for election . Further, the language requiring an absolute majority of Senate votes precludes the sitting vice president from breaking any tie that might occur, although some academics and journalists have speculated to the contrary . </P> <P> The only time the Senate chose the vice president was in 1837 . In that instance, the Senate adopted an alphabetical roll call and voting aloud . The rules further stated, "(I) fa majority of the number of senators shall vote for either the said Richard M. Johnson or Francis Granger, he shall be declared by the presiding officer of the Senate constitutionally elected Vice President of the United States"; the Senate chose Johnson . </P> <P> Section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment specifies if the House of Representatives has not chosen a president - elect in time for the inauguration (noon EST on January 20), then the vice president - elect becomes acting president until the House selects a president . Section 3 also specifies Congress may statutorily provide for who will be acting president if there is neither a president - elect nor a vice president - elect in time for the inauguration . Under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, the Speaker of the House would become acting president until either the House selects a president or the Senate selects a vice president . Neither of these situations has ever occurred . </P> <Table> Electoral votes (EV) allocations for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 presidential elections . Triangular markers () indicate gains or losses following the 2010 Census . <Tr> <Th> EV × States </Th> <Th> States </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 3 × 8 = 24 </Td> <Td> Alaska, Delaware, District of Columbia *, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 4 × 5 = 20 </Td> <Td> Hawaii, Idaho, Maine * *, New Hampshire, Rhode Island </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 × 3 = 15 </Td> <Td> Nebraska * *, New Mexico, West Virginia </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 × 6 = 36 </Td> <Td> Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 × 3 = 21 </Td> <Td> Connecticut, Oklahoma, Oregon </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 × 2 = 16 </Td> <Td> Kentucky, Louisiana </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 × 3 = 27 </Td> <Td> Alabama, Colorado, South Carolina </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 × 4 = 40 </Td> <Td> Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 × 4 = 44 </Td> <Td> Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 × 1 = 12 </Td> <Td> Washington </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 × 1 = 13 </Td> <Td> Virginia </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 × 1 = 14 </Td> <Td> New Jersey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 × 1 = 15 </Td> <Td> North Carolina </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 × 2 = 32 </Td> <Td> Georgia, Michigan </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 × 1 = 18 </Td> <Td> Ohio </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 × 2 = 40 </Td> <Td> Illinois, Pennsylvania </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 × 2 = 58 </Td> <Td> Florida, New York </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 38 × 1 = 38 </Td> <Td> Texas </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 55 × 1 = 55 </Td> <Td> California </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> = 538 </Td> <Td> Total electors </Td> </Tr> </Table>

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