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Presidential Elections
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Constitution Approved
Delegates approve the new United States Constitution. It would later be ratified by the states. In the Constitution the method for selecting the President is presented. They decided that the states would choose electors, and those electors would choose the President. The founding fathers were concerned that the people would not have the required knowledge to choose the President. The small states also wanted a system in which they were fairly represented, which this system provided. -
Jefferson wins 1800 Election
Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson each received 73 electoral votes. In 1800, electors were allowed 2 votes each for President. Burr and Jefferson were named on the same 73 ballots. The election was determined by the House of Representatives on the 36th vote. -
12th Amendment
The 12th amendment is ratified in response to the 1800 Presidential election. Electors are now required to cast separate votes for President and Vice-President. -
Andrew Jackson wins but loses.
Andrew Jackson wins both the popular and electoral vote in 1824. However, he did not receive a majority in the Electoral College. The vote goes to the House of Representatives where John Quincy Adams wins with the support of fourth place finisher Henry Clay. -
Compromise of 1876
Rutherford B. Hayes loses the popular vote to Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden led in the Electoral College 184-165. 185 votes were needed to win, and 20 votes were still disputed. Congress appointed a special committee to determine the results of the election. After making a deal to remove federal troops from the South, Hayes is elected. -
Incumbent President wins popular vote, loses job.
Despite winning the popular vote by a small margin, Incumbent President Grover Cleveland loses the Electoral Vote 233-168 to Benjamin Harrison. -
Woodrow Wilson wins narrow victory
Woodrow Wilson wins a closely contested election over Charles E. Hughes. Wilson won the Electoral Vote 277-254. If any state with more than 12 electoral votes had voted for Hughes instead, Wilson would have been defeated. Wilson had successfully kept the United States out of World War I. -
Alaska and Hawaii participate in first Presidential Election
The addition of Alaska and Hawaii to the United States brings the total Electoral Votes to 537. Richard Nixon wins 26 states to John F. Kennedy's 22. However, Kennedy wins Electoral vote 303-219. -
23rd Amendment Ratified
The 23rd amendment allows citizens living in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) the right to vote for electors in a Presidential election. -
1964 Election
Washington D.C. is included for the first time in a Presidential Election. Its 3 votes bring the total Electoral votes to the current number of 538. Washington D.C. selects the eventual winner Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Last 3rd party gains votes
George Wallace, a member of the American Independent Party becomes the last 3rd party candidate to earn Electoral Votes. -
Small State, Big Impact
Amid most controversy, Al Gore loses election to George Bush. Gore won the popular vote, but Bush won the Electoral Vote 271-266. George Bush won New Hampshire by less than 8,000 votes. If Gore had won in New Hampshire, he would have won the election. -
Electors cast their votes
State electors meet in their states to cast their votes for President and Vice-President. -
Congress Meets
A joint session of Congress will meet to count the electoral college votes. The Vice-President, in his role as President of the Senate will announce the results.
