once again a post with MISinformation and/or DISinformation -option 1 is NOT possible as a candidate must receive a MAJORITY of electors to win - 232 no good
it is somewhat confusing but comes down to this
if congress follows the 12th amendment (as they should) this is ALL it says:
The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote
simple right? no wait CONGRESS fucked it up with a bogus law many years ago claiming to establish "counting procedures" in the electoral college act of 1894
these so called procedures are substance CHANGES to the 12th amendment and on their face INVALID
these include this "objection" procedure (which is prolly ok) and the requirement that BOTH houses of congress approve throwing out a certified slate (which will not happen and is NOT constitutional at all imo)
THAT is why there is so much confusion
coincidence? no it is not
sadly SCOTUS has not (YET) solved this problem