In the show, the House of Representatives deadlocks during the vote for president, and neither Meyer nor O'Brien are elected. The Senate elects Laura Montez for vice president. Since the presidency is vacant, Montez ascends to the presidency. In real life, this situation could not occur. If there is no president-elect certified by Inauguration Day, the Vice President-elect would serve as acting president. The House of Representatives would have to continue holding votes until there is a winner, at which point the acting president would go back to serving as vice president. It would not be possible for the House to allow the acting president to remain in office indefinitely.