Has an Election Ever Ended in a Tie?Yes. In the 1800 U.S. presidential election, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each received 73 electoral votes. Congress needed 36 ballots to settle it.Related Rabbit HolesHas an Election Ever Been Decided by a Coin Toss?Why Do Americans Vote on Tuesdays?Has a Dead Person Ever Won an Election?Read FurtherHere is the important twist: Jefferson did not tie with the opposing party’s presidential candidate, John Adams. He tied with his own running mate, Aaron Burr.Under the original Electoral College system, electors cast two votes without separately designating president and vice president. Jefferson and Burr therefore ended up with 73 votes apiece.The decision went to the House of Representatives. After 35 unsuccessful ballots, the House elected Jefferson on its 36th ballot in February 1801.The mess helped inspire the 12th Amendment, ratified in 1804, requiring separate electoral votes for president and vice president. Apparently the founders discovered that “we’ll figure it out later” is not a brilliant election plan.Further ReadingNational Archives: 1800 Electoral College ResultsLibrary of Congress: Election of 1800
