USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The House, under the Constitution, then chose between Jefferson and Burr for President. The Constitution mandates that House Members vote as a state delegation and that the winner must obtain a simple majority of the states. The House deadlocked at eight states for Jefferson, six for Burr, and two tied.

Detailed explanation-2: -"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided” (U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 3). Since 1789, 294 tie-breaking votes have been cast.

Detailed explanation-3: -The individual receiving the highest number of votes would become president. UnfortunatelyJefferson and his vice-presidential running mate Aaron Burr both received the identical number of electoral votes, and the House of Representatives voted to break the tie.

Detailed explanation-4: -However, because electors could not distinguish between president and vice president when voting prior to the Twelfth Amendment (1804), Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, received the same number of votes in the Electoral College.