What's the most important event settled by one vote?

In My Humble Opinion
1

What would you say was the most important event in any democracy/republic that was settled by a victory of just one vote from the public at large. (i.e Joe Average decided to get out of bed and vote, and his contribution made a noticiable difference)

I’d put this in GQ, but the ‘most important’ may be too subjective.

2

Well, not exactly the public at large, but the first thought that came to mind was President Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial in the Senate.

3

Another that was “not by the public at large” – I believe that when Tennessee voted to give women the right to vote, that passed the Constitutional Amendment. If I am correct, the vote in the Tennessee legislature had a one vote margin.

4

Of course, the 2000 US presidential election was resolved with a 5/4 SCOTUS vote, but again, this was not decided by the public at large.

5

I won Junior class president by only 2 votes.

6

I lost my race for fifth-grade class president by one vote - my own. It was an open ballot, I was just trying to be a nice guy! :smack:

Congress approved expansion of the draft before WW2 by a single vote, IIRC. Vice President Gore broke a tie in the Senate to approve the Clinton budget in '93. I don’t know of any major issues before the general public which were decided by just a single vote - the larger the electorate, the less likely it is that the question will come down to just a single vote.

7

[QUOTE=Zebra]
I won Junior class president by only 2 votes.
[/QUOTE]

Let’s try to stay on topic here!

8

There’s an oft repeated legend that Hitler was elected by one vote. Any truth to the story?

9

[QUOTE=madmonk28]
Of course, the 2000 US presidential election was resolved with a 5/4 SCOTUS vote, but again, this was not decided by the public at large.
[/QUOTE]

heh. As put in the Daily Show’s America: The Book: “Chief Justice William Rehnquist was lucky enough to get to vote for George W. Bush twice. The second time counted more.”

10

[QUOTE=Atomicktom]
There’s an oft repeated legend that Hitler was elected by one vote. Any truth to the story?
[/QUOTE]

No. The vote was 533 for Hitler, 1 against.

I wonder what happened to the one dissenter.
some other “one vote” myths debunked there as well.

11

[QUOTE=Atomicktom]
There’s an oft repeated legend that Hitler was elected by one vote. Any truth to the story?
[/QUOTE]
No. The confusion probably came from this event, as related in Wikipedia:

12

[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir]
I lost my race for fifth-grade class president by one vote - my own. It was an open ballot, I was just trying to be a nice guy! :smack:
[/QUOTE]

You are not alone. The prime ministerial career of John Gorton was ended by his own vote to break a tie in the Liberal Party caucus.