In 1800 New York's presidential electors were chosen by a joint ballot of the state legislature, not by popular vote.1 New York's electoral votes had gone to John Adams in 1796.2 In the legislative elections of April and May 1800, with Aaron Burr managing their campaign, the Republicans won a majority: 85 Jeffersonians to 65 Federalists.3 The state's 12 electoral votes now seemed certain to go to Thomas Jefferson when the new legislature met in the fall.4
On May 7, 1800, Alexander Hamilton wrote to Governor John Jay proposing that he call the outgoing legislature into session to change the law so that electors would be chosen by popular vote in districts.5 Hamilton believed this would assure Adams's victory, and wrote that in such times "it will not do to be overscrupulous."6 Jay did not answer; on the back of the letter he wrote, "Proposing a measure for party purposes which I think it would not become me to adopt."7
All 12 of New York's electoral votes went to Jefferson, and the Center for the Study of the American Constitution notes that had Adams won just five of them, he would have been reelected.8 Before the Twelfth Amendment, each elector cast two votes, and Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied for the most electoral votes.9 The House of Representatives decided the election, with 10 state delegations voting for Jefferson, 4 for Burr and 2 making no choice.10
Prior to ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, each elector was given two votes and required to cast each for a different person. The person with the highest total of votes was elected President and the person with the second highest total was elected Vice President. Even though John Adams ran as Jefferson's main opponent in the general election, Jefferson and Burr tied with the highest number of electoral votes. The election was decided in the House of Representatives, with 10 State delegations voting for Jefferson, 4 voting for Burr and 2 making no choice.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1800, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
Sources for each sentence
Each numbered entry quotes the words that support that sentence, as they appear on the linked page.
- Back to sentence 1
In 1800, 10 of the 16 states’ presidential electors were chosen by the legislatures rather than directly by popular vote. New York’s electors were chosen by a joint ballot of the legislature.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 2
In 1796, New York’s electoral votes had gone to Adams.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 3
But in April-May 1800, Aaron Burr, Hamilton’s longtime nemesis, had managed a brilliant legislative election campaign, the Republicans had won a majority
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 the state’s 12 electoral votes seemed certain to go to Jefferson when the newly elected legislature (controlled by 85 Jeffersonians and 65 Federalists) convened in the fall and chose the electors.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 4
the state’s 12 electoral votes seemed certain to go to Jefferson when the newly elected legislature (controlled by 85 Jeffersonians and 65 Federalists) convened in the fall and chose the electors.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 5
On May 7, 1800, four days after the results of the election became known, Hamilton wrote to Governor Jay.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 Hamilton suggested that Jay call into session the lame-duck legislature, and that this legislature should change the law so that the electors would be chosen by the popular vote in districts rather than by the legislature.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 6
Hamilton believed that this would assure Adams’s victory.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 in times like these in which we live, it will not do to be overscrupulous.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 7
Jay did not deign to answer Hamilton’s letter. On the back of the letter he wrote: “Proposing a measure for party purposes which I think it would not become me to adopt.”
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 8
As a result, all 12 of New York’s electoral votes went to Jefferson, who got 73 electoral votes to Adams’s 65. Had Adams won just five of New York’s electors, he would have been reelected President.
csac.history.wisc.edu/2020/12/03/manipulating-the-electoral-vote-echoes-of-1800 - Back to sentence 9
Prior to ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, each elector was given two votes and required to cast each for a different person.
archives.gov/electoral-college/1800 Jefferson and Burr tied with the highest number of electoral votes.
archives.gov/electoral-college/1800 - Back to sentence 10
The election was decided in the House of Representatives, with 10 State delegations voting for Jefferson, 4 voting for Burr and 2 making no choice.
archives.gov/electoral-college/1800
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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