In 1800, decided the US Presidency. In the presidential election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr was tied in the Electoral College, 73 to 73. Therefore the election was tossed into the House of Representatives for decision; but after ballots were cast 36 times by the House, the vote was still tied. Then, one Federalist changed his vote. Others followed, and Jefferson was elected President on the 37th ballot.
In 1839, elected the Governor of Massachusetts, Marcus "Landslide" Morton. Of the 102,066 votes cast by the good people of that commonwealth, he received exactly 51,034. Had his count been 51,033, the election would have been thrown into the Legislature, where he probably would not have won. "Landslide" also made the record books in 1842 when he won the same office again by one vote, this time in the Legislature. (In those days, Massachusetts governors were elected for terms of 1 year.)
In 1845, brought Texas into the Union. Freed from Mexico in 1836 the Republic of Texas was immediately formed and recognized as a new nation by the United States. In 1845, the Republic of Texas requested annexation to the Union, however, many Americans felt that another southern state would bring trouble. When the Senate voted a deadlock occurred, with the Senate voting 26-26. Then one Senator changed his vote and by this one single vote Texas became the 28th State by a vote of 27-25. It entered into force only after ratification by the Texas Congress and voters.
In 1846, started a war. The Mexican army had invaded Texas and President James Polk asked for a Declaration of War. The Senate was not anxious for war and the declaration was passed by the margin of only one vote. That one vote for the Mexican War brought us not only victory, but the territory of five great states, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and California.
In 1868, saved Andrew Johnson from losing the presidency. After being impeached in the U.S. House for abusing his executive powers, President Johnson retained his office when the U.S. Senate voted 35 to 19 to remove him from office. A two-thirds majority of the votes cast was needed to oust him from office. Thus a 36-to-18 result was required, which was missed by one vote.
In 1876, decided the U.S. Presidency. Samuel Tilden won the presidential election by more than a half million in the popular vote over Rutherford B. Hayes. However, some states had issued confused returns and the Electoral College found itself deadlocked. So a special commission was formed to make the final decision. The commission decided that Hayes, although losing the popular vote, had won the Electoral vote by just one ballot - 185 to 184.
In 1920, gave women the right to vote. Women’s right to vote in the United States in 1920 was decided by a single vote cast in the Tennessee legislature.
In 1961, decided the parliamentary election outcome in Zanzibar. On 18 January 1961, in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania), the Afro-Shirazi Party won the general elections by a single seat, after the seat of Chake-Chake on Pemba Island was won by a single vote.
In 1978, decided an Alaska state senate election. One vote elected Tim Kelly to his Senate seat in District F, Alaska.
In 1984, decided an Alaska state representative primary election. One vote gave Mary Ratcliff the nomination for State Representative of House District 12, Alaska, in the Primary Election. 9
In 1986, raised a statewide drinking age. The Iowa House passed SF 97 by one vote. SF 97 changed the legal drinking age in Iowa from 19 to 21.
In 1988, won an Iowa state representative primary race. Bob Hellyer won the Democratic primary for Iowa House District 67 by one vote.
In 1989, would have decided a Michigan ballot proposition. A Lansing, Michigan School District millage proposition failed when the final recount produced a tie vote 5,147 for, and 5,147 against. On the original vote count, votes against the proposition were ten more than those in favor. The result meant that the school district had to reduce its budget by $2.5 million.
In 1994, would have decided a Wyoming state representative election. Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call tied for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives from the Jackson Hole area with 1,941 votes each. A recount produced the same result. Mr. Luthi was finally declared the winner when, in a drawing before the State Canvassing Board, a pingpong ball bearing his name was pulled from the cowboy hat of Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan.
In 1996, decided an Alaska state representative primary election. One vote gave Ann Spohnholz the nomination for State Representative of House District 21, Alaska, in the Primary Election. 14
In 1997, decided a South Dakota state representative election. Democrat John McIntyre led Republican Hal Wick 4,195 to 4,191 for the second seat in Legislative District 12 on election night. A subsequent recount showed Wick the winner at 4,192 to 4,191. The State Supreme Court however, ruled that one ballot counted for Wick was invalid due to an overvote. This left the race a tie. After hearing arguments from both sides, the State Legislature voted to seat Wick 46 to 20.
In 1997, decided a Vermont state representative race. Sydney Nixon was seated as an apparent one vote winner, 570 to 569. Mr Nixon resigned when the State House determined, after a recount, that he had actually lost to his opponent Robert Emond 572 to 571.
In 1998, would have decided an Alaska school board election. A TIE was broken by a flip of the coin to elect Wayne Morgan after a runoff election for a school board seat in the Kuspuk School District.
In 1999, would have decided an Alaska school board election. A TIE was broken by a flip of the coin to elect Larry Wilson to a school board seat in the Bering Strait School District.
In 2000, decided the presidential election. The Supreme Court voted 5-4, in the case of Gore v. Bush, to stop recounting in Florida. Mr. Bush was declared the winner in Florida by 527 votes out of almost 6 million votes cat. By some recounts, Mr. Gore would have won Florida, and with it the presidency. Florida was NOT the tightest state in the 2000 election: Gore won new Mexico by only 179 votes, although Florida was tighter in percentage terms.
In 2004, would have decided a Massachusetts Democratic State Committeewoman election. In the Middlesex-Suffolf-Essex state senate district, Lesley Phillips’ race for the state committeewoman’s seat with Patty Cheevers ended in a tie. A convention was held and Ms. Cheevers was seated on the State Committee, despite a formal complaint by Ms. Phillips that write-in ballots in Boston were not counted. It was later proven that at least four people cast write-in votes for Ms. Phillips in Boston. Ms. Cheevers retained her seat anyway.
