Political question but not political

[LennG]

 This is NOT about politics so please just answer the question..

If the President-elect should die before taking office, does his VP-elect become President when the time comes for swearing-in?

[Ed Vette]

Yes, if the President-elect were to die before taking office on Inauguration Day, the Vice President-elect would indeed become President. This is outlined in the 20th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that if the President-elect dies before the commencement of their term, the Vice President-elect shall assume the presidency.

[Giant Obsession]

I was just wondering the same thing earlier today.

And sadly it seems more relevant with each passing day.

[Ed Vette]

If the President-elect dies before the election is certified, the Vice President-elect does not automatically become the President-elect or get certified as such. The process is more complicated, and it depends on when the death occurs.

If a President-elect dies after the election but before the official meeting of the Electoral College, the state party (of the deceased candidate) may appoint another candidate to take their place in the electoral process. State laws dictate how this situation is handled, and it varies by state.

If the President-elect dies before the Electoral College formally casts its votes or before the results are certified by Congress, the situation can become complicated. However, the established procedures help address these scenarios:

1. **Timing**: If the President-elect dies after the election but before the Electoral College votes (which occurs in December), the electors pledged to that candidate will typically have the option to vote for a designated successor nominated by the party. This means the party would likely select another candidate for the electors to support.

2. **If Electors Vote**: If the electors cast their votes for the deceased candidate, those votes could be counted unless there is a move to appoint new electors or change the voting decision before the certification process.

3. **Congressional Certification**: Once the Electoral College votes are submitted and counted by Congress, if the elected individual has passed away, Congress would still certify the electoral votes cast. If electors voted for a replacement candidate, that person would then be recognized as the winner.

4. **Presidential Succession**: If both the President-elect and Vice President-elect were to die before the inauguration, the Presidential Succession Act would come into play. The next in line would be the Speaker of the House, followed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and then cabinet members in order of their departments' creation.

5. **Inauguration**: If the death occurs between the Electoral College vote and inauguration, the newly elected president or successor would take office if they are confirmed as the winner by Congress.

In summary, while there are processes in place to handle such unfortunate events, the precise chain of events would depend on when the death occurs in relation to the election timeline and the actions taken by the political parties and state electors.

[LennG]

If the President-elect dies before the election is certified, the Vice President-elect does not automatically become the President-elect or get certified as such. The process is more complicated, and it depends on when the death occurs.

If a President-elect dies after the election but before the official meeting of the Electoral College, the state party (of the deceased candidate) may appoint another candidate to take their place in the electoral process. State laws dictate how this situation is handled, and it varies by state.

If the President-elect dies before the Electoral College formally casts its votes or before the results are certified by Congress, the situation can become complicated. However, the established procedures help address these scenarios:

1. **Timing**: If the President-elect dies after the election but before the Electoral College votes (which occurs in December), the electors pledged to that candidate will typically have the option to vote for a designated successor nominated by the party. This means the party would likely select another candidate for the electors to support.

2. **If Electors Vote**: If the electors cast their votes for the deceased candidate, those votes could be counted unless there is a move to appoint new electors or change the voting decision before the certification process.

3. **Congressional Certification**: Once the Electoral College votes are submitted and counted by Congress, if the elected individual has passed away, Congress would still certify the electoral votes cast. If electors voted for a replacement candidate, that person would then be recognized as the winner.

4. **Presidential Succession**: If both the President-elect and Vice President-elect were to die before the inauguration, the Presidential Succession Act would come into play. The next in line would be the Speaker of the House, followed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and then cabinet members in order of their departments' creation.

5. **Inauguration**: If the death occurs between the Electoral College vote and inauguration, the newly elected president or successor would take office if they are confirmed as the winner by Congress.

In summary, while there are processes in place to handle such unfortunate events, the precise chain of events would depend on when the death occurs in relation to the election timeline and the actions taken by the political parties and state electors.

So the VP-elect doesn't automatically become the president-elect?

In this last post I see no mention of the VP unless the electorate nominate him as their candidate, is that correct?

[Ed Vette]

So the VP-elect doesn't automatically become the president-elect?

In this last post I see no mention of the VP unless the electorate nominate him as their candidate, is that correct?

That's how I understand it. Btw, I have a Chat AI account and those are the answers to the questions I posed to her.

[LennG]

 Thanks