I have heard that in the USA if the presidential electoral college is ever tied ( which is unlikely) and Congress cannot decide on the winner, then the winner and therefore the next President is chosen by a coin toss/drawing lots? Is this correct? It sounds a bit like an urban legend over such a powerful position, but I have heard stranger things!
That is definitely not correct. The Constitution's 12th and 20th Amendments address scenarios where there is no clear winner. If it gets to be inauguration day and the House has not chosen a President-elect, then whoever the Senate has chosen as Vice-President-elect becomes President. If the Senate hasn't chosen the Vice-President-elect, then the Constitution says that Congress has to have written a law in advance, specifying what will happen. They have, and it's called the
Presidential Succession Act. The Presidential Succession Act says that the
Speaker of the House of Representatives takes over. Ironically, this office is
also one that the House has to elect, so maybe the House could even be deadlocked on that question! No problem, says the Presidential Succession Act -- then it will go to the
President pro tempore of the Senate. This is usually just the longest-serving Senator in the majority party, but there have been controversies over the position when there is no majority party. No problem, says the Act -- then it will go to the Secretary of State. So, in short, that's why Condoleeza Rice didn't submit her letter of resignation yet.
