In Graphics: 5 closest presidential elections in US history

Americans will head to the polls next month to elect their next president in what could be the closest race in over two decades. US Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are the two candidates vying for the White House, with polls showing a neck-and-neck contest.

Election analysts have predicted that either candidate could claim victory on November 5. Mail-in ballots reflect how close the race is, with Democrats at 20.4% and Republicans at 21 per cent.

The path to the presidency is anything but simple, as the outcome will depend on the Electoral College. Each state contributes to the total of 538 electors, based on population, and a majority of 270 is needed to win.

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Notably, Harris has held a narrow lead over Trump in national polling averages since she entered the race in late July, and she remains ahead, according to the BBC. Her campaign saw a polling surge in its early weeks, giving her a lead of almost four percentage points by the end of August.

However, the margin between the two candidates has recently narrowed. This would not be the first time the US has seen such a close election. Throughout history, several presidential races have been decided by close margins. From John Quincy Adams vs Andrew Jackson in 1824 to George W Bush vs Al Gore in 2000, many battles for the White House have been tightly contested.

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Let’s take a look at some of the closest presidential elections in American history: