What happens if Hillary Clinton wins the US Presidential Election and Donald Trump doesn’t accept the result?
OUTSPOKEN Republican candidate Donald Trump has long claimed he may challenge the result of the US presidential election if it doesn't go his way.
"I'll keep you in suspense," he has repeated when asked whether he would accept tomorrow's all important result.
His controversial comments have been supported by his campaign team, but they go against an important tradition in US politics that the loser recognises the result and congratulates his or her rival.
For 240 years, no matter how bitter the campaign, the vanquished candidate has always swallowed their pride and publicly conceded.
But Mr Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and his adviser, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, insist the candidate's stance is not unprecedented.
Mr Giuliani said while the peaceful transfer of power was important, so too was the "accuracy of the election".
He said that if the result was close, the campaign just would not accept it.
He compared the situation to the contested result in 2000, when George W Bush beat Al Gore.
"Al Gore didn't accept it, did he? He went to court over it," he said.
So what can Mr Trump actually do?
Mr Trump's options are pretty limited. If the result is too close to call he will have the legal right to contest the outcome and demand a recount.
If he believes that electoral fraud has taken place, he can also issue lawsuits against officials in any of the states he suspects of wrongdoing.
In the event that Mrs Clinton wins with an overwhelming majority, Mr Trump can refuse to accept the loss but there is nothing he can actually do to alter the outcome.
While refusing to concede may not chnage the result, it would definitely tar the reputation of the US democratic and political system.
Won't refusing to concede just whip up trouble?
The billionaire commands a loyal following, many of whom already believe he is an anti-establishment figure being victimised by the 'political elite'.
He has already been accused of whipping up conspiracy theories and inciting violence among his supporters.
And he infamously sparked controversy after suggesting "Second Amendment people" (gun owners) could target his political rival.
At a Republican rally in Cincinnati, one Trump supporter warned of a "revolution" and said there would be "bloodshed" if Clinton won.
"We're going to have a revolution and take them out of office if that's what it takes. There's going to be a lot of bloodshed," Dan Bowman told the .
What happened with Al Gore?
The contest between Mr Gore, a Democrat, and Republican candidate George W Bush in 2000 was one of the closest in history.
Everything hinged on results in the state of Florida, where a narrow margin of victory led to weeks of legal battles and a recount.
The argument eventually reached the US Supreme Court, which put a stop to the recount.
The contested votes were eventually awarded to Mr Bush, granting him overall victory.
Mr Gore, who won the national popular vote by a margin of more than 500,000 but narrowly lost in Florida, finally conceded defeat on 13 December 2000.
"Tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession," he said.
So would Trump's actions be nothing more than an incredible sulk?
Pretty much so.
If Hillary Clinton wins the popular vote and the electoral college, there is no question she will become President, even if Trump refuses to accept the results.
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.
The US Constitution, Amendment XII
So if Clinton wins 270 or more of the 538 electoral votes, then there really is no wiggle room for Trump here, Clinton will win.
If Trump doesn’t like it, he can send his supporters to the streets or file legal action, but a court would abide by the Constitution and decide in Clinton’s favour.
READ MORE
Ryanair launches US election sale of £9.99 flights with message poking fun at Hillary Clinton
LIVE election updates as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton’s race to the White House enters final day
Donald Trump calls on voters to defy the ‘political elite’ as he delivers final campaign messages
Billionaire Trump boasted about trying and failing to have sex with John Travolta’s wife