What would happen if Roy Moore dropped out of the race for the U.S. Senate? What if Senator Luther Strange resigned today? What if the state Republican party reversed course and pulled its backing from Moore?

The race for Alabama's seat in the U.S. Senate is full of "what ifs" after Moore was hit with allegations he had improper sexual contact with teenage girls in the 1970s when he was in his 30s. Moore has denied the allegations, but polls show Democrat Doug Jones is now leading the Republican nominee, a scenario almost unimaginable two weeks ago.

Here are the scenarios that could come into play ahead of the Dec. 12 election:

Can Moore be taken off the ballot?

No. Moore's name is already on the ballot and that won't change - Alabama law prevents names being removed from the ballot within 76 days of an election

Moore drops out but gets the most votes in the election

If Moore formally suspended his candidacy before the election yet still received the most votes - "not a majority, a plurality," Secretary of State John Merrill told the "Rick&Bubba" radio show this morning - his candidacy would be disqualified. The election would be declared null and void and the process would start over. Gov. Kay Ivey would select a date for the next election and Sen. Luther Strange, appointed by ex-Gov. Robert Bentley to replace Jeff Sessions after the long-time Senator became U.S. Attorney General, would remain in office until the election.

Moore drops out, but Doug Jones gets the most votes in the election

If Jones receives the most votes in the election - topping Moore and any write-in candidate - he wins the election and goes to Washington as Alabama's next Senator.

And what about a write-in candidate?

If a write-in candidate receives the most votes in the Dec. 12 election they are the winner, whether Moore is officially in the race or not, assuming they meet the other qualifications for office.

Could Luther Strange be the write-in candidate even though he lost the Republican primary to Moore?

Yes, Strange could be a write-in candidate despite what's known as the "sore loser" law that prevents a candidate that failed to win a primary from running as an independent in the general election.

"Sen. Strange could still be a write-in candidate, but he cannot be a candidate whose name appears printed on the ballot, that would be a violation of the sore loser law," Merrill said. "If more people wrote an individual's name in through a write-in campaign someone might initiate, that person would become the U.S. senator."

Moore stays in, but the state GOP pulls its support

If Moore stays in the race but the Alabama GOP pulls its official support but he still receives the plurality of votes, we go back to scenario one and the election is declared null and void and the process starts over.

A Moore exit - either by dropping out or the GOP pulling its support - doesn't automatically send Jones to Washington.

"Only way Doug Jones or a write-in candidate is going to Washington on Dec. 12 is if he gets the most votes. Period," Merrill said.

However, the state Republican Party has given no indication it plans to abandon Moore.

"The ALGOP Steering Committee supports Judge Roy Moore as our nominee and trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race," State Republican Party Chairwoman Terry Lathan said.

What is Luther Strange resigned today?

Reports came out earlier this week that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was pushing for Luther Strange to resign in order to trigger a new election and circumvent Moore's candidacy. Even if Strange resigned, however, Merrill said the Dec. 12 election continues as planned.

"Even if Senator Strange elected to resign today or even worse he was no longer able to serve, another temporary senator would be named but it would not interrupt the current election process," Merrill said.

What if Kay Ivey just canceled the entire election?

While the idea of canceling the special election has been floated by some, that's a no-go, according to Ivey.

"The Governor is not considering and has no plans to move the special election for the U.S. Senate," said Josh Pendergrass, communications director for Ivey.

There's another issue when it comes to changing the election date: Absentee ballots. Absentee and overseas voters, such as those in the military, have been casting ballots since Oct. 18, Merrill said.

What if Moore wins but the Senate refuses to seat him?

National Republicans dropped Moore quickly in the wake of the allegations and there has been talk that even if he wins the race, the Senate could refuse to seat him.

That's highly unlikely, however.

The Supreme Court decision Powell vs. McCormack stipulates the Senate can only refuse to seat Moore if he fails to meet the requirements listed in the Constitution: be at least 30 years old; be a citizen for the last nine years; and live in the state they are seeking to represent.

Moore meets those requirements meaning if he wins, the Senate will have little choice but to seat him.

Can the Senate expel Moore?

Moore's future in the Senate is the bigger question. If he wins and is seated, the Senate could vote to expel him. A vote to expel a Senator requires a two-thirds majority and with the Republican hold on the Senate potentially precarious, it's unclear if the GOP would be willing to take a chance by booting Moore.

That isn't deterring some, however.

"If (Moore) refuses to withdraw and wins, the Senate should vote to expel him, because he does not meet the ethical and moral requirements of the United States Senate," Sen. Cory Gardner said.

To expel Moore, it would take the vote of 48 Democrats and independents and 19 Republicans. The last time it was done was 1862.

And if it doesn't expel him?

If Moore wins the race and the Senate doesn't expel him, he will be up for reelection in 2020.