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I’m confused about the US presidential election of 1800. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were backed by the same party, with Jefferson intended to become president and Burr vice president. Yet they finished tied in electoral votes, and the House of Representatives had to choose the president.
How did the voting rules allow running mates to become competitors for the same office?
- Did electors distinguish between presidential and vice-presidential votes at that time?
- When the election reached the House, did each representative have a vote, or did each state delegation cast one vote?
- What did the Twelfth Amendment change to address this problem?
I’m trying to separate the original constitutional procedure from the party’s intended arrangement. Modern descriptions of a presidential “ticket” make this election difficult to follow.
