# 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\
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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-217-votes-needed-to-elect-a-speaker-of-the-house/991726/8 "2023-10-18T06:32:14Z")

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> [@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):
>
> 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.

I was curious and looked it up so I’ll save some of you the trouble.

Dave Cicilline resigned to become president and chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Chris Stewart resigned because his wife is having health issues.

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