# Why only 217 votes needed to elect a Speaker of the House?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-217-votes-needed-to-elect-a-speaker-of-the-house/991726>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 18, 2023, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-217-votes-needed-to-elect-a-speaker-of-the-house/991726 "2023-10-18T00:16:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 5

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**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-217-votes-needed-to-elect-a-speaker-of-the-house/991726/5 "2023-10-18T03:23:18Z")

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I posted this in a different thread.

> [@How many Reps (and which ones) would it take to break this logjam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-reps-and-which-ones-would-it-take-to-break-this-logjam/990682/18):
>
> There are currently two house vacancies.
> 
> Dave Cicilline (D-RI) resigned May 31, 2023. There is a special election to replace him scheduled November 7, 2023.
> 
> Chris Stewart (R-UT) resigned September 15, 2023. No special election scheduled yet.

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