10 of the closest presidential elections in United States history

Year: 1800

Electoral college tally: 73 to 65

Total/majority: 138/70

In the 1800 election, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams faced off again, with Jefferson claiming 73 electoral votes and the presidency. However, prior to the ratification of the 12th Amendment, votes for the president and vice president were not listed on separate ballots. This led Jefferson and Aaron Burr to each received 73 electoral votes, despite coming from the same ticket. The question of which man would become president was sent to the House of Representatives, and it took 36 ballots to reach a majority decision. The 12th Amendment, ratified in 1804, was a move to rectify problems that arose in the 1796 and 1800 elections.

>> Thomas Jefferson (left) and John Adams (right)