What happens if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?

If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes during a presidential election, the decision on who becomes President is made by the House of Representatives. According to the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the House selects the President from among the top three candidates who received the most electoral votes. Each state delegation in the House casts one vote for one of those candidates, which means that the outcome reflects the majority decision of the states rather than the individual members of the House.

This procedure emphasizes the federal structure of the U.S. government, ensuring that smaller states still have a voice in the selection of the President. By requiring a majority of state votes rather than a straight tally of representatives, the process aligns with the principles of federalism where states hold significant power in governance.