Which election led to a tie that required the House of Representatives to decide the outcome?

The election of 1800 is significant in American history, primarily because it resulted in a tie in the Electoral College between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Both candidates received 73 electoral votes, leading to a scenario where no candidate achieved a clear majority. As outlined in the U.S. Constitution, the responsibility to decide the outcome fell to the House of Representatives.

This situation highlighted a critical flaw in the electoral process of the time, which led to the eventual passage of the 12th Amendment, establishing separate ballots for president and vice president. The House of Representatives, tasked with resolving the tie, faced numerous ballots before eventually declaring Jefferson the winner after a lengthy and contentious process. This election not only marked a significant political shift but also underscored the importance of the electoral system in shaping American governance.

The other elections listed do not have a similar historic context involving a tie requiring a House decision. The election of 1860, for example, saw Abraham Lincoln secure a substantial plurality of electoral votes, and the elections of 1896 and 1928 also featured decisive wins by the candidates.