10 Pivotal Moments When a Single Vote Shaped History's Course

In 1868, President Andrew Johnson narrowly avoided removal from office during his impeachment trial in the Senate by one vote. This instance is just one of many historical events where a single vote or an individual's decision has significantly altered the course of events. Here are ten such instances that have left lasting impacts on politics, society, and law.

1. 2000 U.S. Presidential Election – Florida Electoral Votes

The 2000 election hinged on the Florida vote recount. The U.S. Supreme Court's 7-2 decision to halt manual recounts effectively awarded Florida’s electoral votes to George W. Bush, securing his presidency despite Al Gore winning the popular vote by nearly half a million ballots.

2. 1877 U.S. Presidential Election – The Compromise of 1877

Although not a single vote tally, the decision by a special Electoral Commission gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency by one electoral vote in a disputed election, ending Reconstruction and profoundly altering U.S. race relations and politics.

3. 1800 U.S. Presidential Election – Tie in Electoral College

Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied with the same number of electoral votes. The House of Representatives cast votes to break the tie, and after 36 ballots, Jefferson won. This single individual's or group's decision marked the beginning of peaceful political power transfer in the U.S.

4. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) – Supreme Court Vote

The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in favor of legal racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. This single court decision legally sanctioned segregation for over 50 years until overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

5. Gallatin County Election Day Battle (1838)

William Peniston’s speech and the refusal by a Missourian named Dick Weldon to allow Mormons to vote sparked violence, suppressing Mormon votes and influencing Missouri’s political landscape profoundly in that period.

6. Judicial Vote in Bush v. Gore (2000)

The U.S. Supreme Court's narrow 5-4 rulings effectively decided the election outcome by halting Florida's recount—an example where one justice's position in a tightly divided court shaped American presidential history.

7. Snyder Act of 1924 – Granting Citizenship to Indigenous Peoples

Congress' decision to grant U.S. citizenship to Native Americans regardless of tribal affiliation changed their ability to vote and participate fully in U.S. politics, which was a pivotal step long delayed.

8. Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Subsequent Voting Law Changes

The Supreme Court struck down a key section of the Voting Rights Act, leading to new state-level restrictions on voting access, such as voter ID laws and polling place closures, which have impacted voter turnout especially in minority communities.

9. The 17th Amendment (1913) – Direct Election of Senators

The constitutional amendment that allowed the public to directly elect senators instead of state legislatures was a critical shift in American democratic elections, influenced by the vote of Congress and ratifying states.

10. Supreme Court Ruled Japanese and Asian Indians Ineligible for Citizenship (1922 and 1923)

Judicial decisions denying naturalized citizenship to persons of Japanese and Indian heritage also affected their voting rights and social status significantly until citizenship was later granted by law.

The deciding vote in Johnson's impeachment trial came from Senator Edmund G. Ross, who broke with his party to vote against the conviction. Other notable instances include Proposition 13, a California ballot initiative passed in 1978, which capped property taxes at 1% of the assessed value and required a two-thirds majority for future tax increases.

The Texas Railroad Commission's decision in 1931 created a regulatory model that influenced oil policies globally, laying the groundwork for organizations like OPEC. Alaska became a key strategic location during World War II and the Cold War, bolstering America's national defense. In 1931, the Texas Railroad Commission imposed strict production quotas on oil during the East Texas Oil Boom, saving countless small oil producers from financial ruin.

Vasili Arkhipov, a Soviet naval officer, prevented nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis by dissenting against the launch of nuclear torpedoes from a submarine targeted by American forces. The purchase of Alaska from Russia, widely mocked as "Seward's Folly," was initially seen as unfit for settlement or development, but it proved to be rich in resources like oil, gold, and fisheries. In 1867, the U.S. Senate approved the acquisition of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, a deal negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

These examples show both direct single votes (as in electoral outcomes or court rulings) and individual or small group decisions that changed political, social, or legal trajectories profoundly. Some are actual "one vote" decisions, such as the Electoral College tie-breakers and Supreme Court rulings, while others involve the decisive act of an individual in voting suppression or legislation affecting voting rights.