Why did the House of Representatives have to decide the election?

The House of Representatives had to decide the election in certain instances, such as the 1824 presidential election, because no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes. According to the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, when this occurs, the House selects the President from the top three candidates. This process ensures that the election outcome can still be determined democratically, even when the electoral vote does not yield a clear winner.