How many total electoral votes were there in 1796?

In the 1796

presidential election there was a total of 138 electoral votes

thereby requiring a majority of 70 votes to win the presidential

election.

According to the

prevailing rules of electoral college voting at that time, electors

cast votes for two persons. Electors could not distinguish between

their presidential and vice-presidential choices until the passage

of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1804.

In 1796, the recipient of the most electoral votes would become

president and the runner-up vice-president. In the 1796

presidential election there was a total of 138 electoral votes

thereby requiring a majority of 70 votes to win the presidential

election. John Adams was elected president with 71 electoral votes.

Thomas Jefferson finished second with 68 electoral votes. Others

receiving votes included Thomas Pinckney (59), Aaron Burr (30),

Samuel Adams (15), O. Ellsworth (11), George Clinton (7), John Jay

(5), James IreDELL (3), S. Johnston (2), George Washington (2),

John Henry (2), and Charles C. Pinckney (1). Jefferson received the

second highest number of electoral votes and was elected vice

president according to the prevailing rules of electoral college

voting at that time.