Another question about death and politics

[TimPoet]

Guy at work asked what happens to a presidential ticket if the top of the ticket dies before the election?

I've googled it but so far all I have found is conjecture.

[EzyStvy]

I've been wondering the same thing myself....Got lucky with a search:

Constitutional Topic: Death of a Presidential Candidate
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_pvp.html

In short-> If a presidential candidate dies after the party convention and before the election, particularly before ballots are printed, the party can select a new person to represent the party on the ticket.

[mbossman2]

Section 3 of the 20th Amendment covers it:

Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.