Short Answer 
The Electoral Vote, consisting of 538 electors, requires a majority of 270 votes to win the U.S. presidency. In rare cases where no candidate achieves this, the House of Representatives elects the president, with each state delegation having one vote, regardless of population size. Such ties are extremely rare, having only occurred once in the 1824 election.
Understand the Electoral Vote Process
The Electoral Vote is crucial in determining the U.S. president, with a total of 538 electors. A candidate must secure a majority of 270 electoral votes to win. If no candidate achieves this majority, a tie can occur, leading to a unique decision-making process.
House of Representatives Decides
In the event of a tie, the House of Representatives steps in to elect the president. Each state delegation within the House receives one vote, regardless of the number of representatives from that state. This means that a state with a smaller population carries the same weight in this vote as a larger state.
Rare Occurrence
Such ties in the Electoral Vote are exceedingly rare in U.S. history and have only happened once since the Twelfth Amendment was adopted in 1804. The only instance took place during the 1824 presidential election. Understanding this process is essential because it highlights the House’s significant role in determining the presidency if the Electoral Vote results in a tie.