What happens if poll is too close to call?

THE unusual nature of US presidential elections means a candidate does not have to win the national popular vote to become president. Rather, the result depends on the Electoral College, an institution whose composition is determined by the winner of each individual state. That means any potential dispute between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton resulting from Tuesday’s election would unfold state by state.

The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors, with the share received by each state roughly proportional to its population size. A candidate must secure 270 votes to win. In every state, political parties generally nominate their own slate of electors. When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president next week, they are actually choosing a presidential candidate’s preferred slate for their state. Once the popular vote is over, the victorious electors convene separately in each state and vote. If no candidate reaches 270 in the Electoral College, the president is chosen by the US House of Representatives.

Many of the procedures for voting in presidential elections are determined by state law, and administered by state officials. Each state has its own rules for conducting recounts. Beyond a recount, anyone can challenge a state’s election in court. A legal challenge could be decided by a lower appeals court, all of which have different political compositions. – Reuters