The Isle of Man should find out tomorrow who its next Chief Minister will be, but what happens if neither of the two declared candidates can muster the 13 votes needed to take the top job?

Newly elected MHK Kirrie Jenkins and experienced politician Chris Thomas are the two candidates due to face the House of Keys at 10am.

But if neither can command a majority, the door could open for another member to enter the race, with several names already having been discussed during the contest.

Anyone seeking to stand for Chief Minister will also need to submit a written statement, meaning any new contender would have to complete this step before the vote.

One of the most obvious possibilities is Onchan MHK Rob Callister, who previously put himself forward before withdrawing after concluding he lacked sufficient support.

Mr Callister has since said he would consider throwing his hat back into the ring if neither Mrs Jenkins nor Mr Thomas secures the necessary votes.

Could the outgoing Chief Minister Alfred Cannan make a return? The Ayre and Michael MHK has not ruled out another bid, although he is not among the two candidates formally proposed for Tuesday's vote.

Health Minister Claire Christian is another name that has been floated. On election night, she indicated she would not rule herself out of the running.

There has also been speculation around Jason Moorhouse, the newly elected MHK for Arbory, Castletown and Malew. However, he has confirmed he did not send emails putting himself forward for the role despite rumours suggesting he had.

Kirrie Jenkins gets us underway in the live Chief Minister Candidate Hustings
The live Chief Minister hustings last week should’ve given the other 22 candidates a good idea of who to vote for tomorrow (Photo: Tynwald) (Tynwald )

Could another member of the new House of Keys emerge instead? With 15 new MHKs elected in September, there is no shortage of fresh faces, although there is no confirmed alternative candidate at this stage.

If neither Mrs Jenkins nor Mr Thomas reaches 13 votes, Speaker David Ashford could adjourn the sitting before another ballot. If the deadlock continues, nominations can be reopened, allowing another member to put their name forward.

There is a precedent: in 2006, Tony Brown emerged after earlier candidates failed to secure a majority.

For now, the focus remains on Mrs Jenkins and Mr Thomas. But Tuesday's vote may yet have a few twists.

You can follow the action as it unfolds in our dedicated live blog at iomtoday.co.im.