Colorado became a state in August 1876, three months before that year's presidential election.1 According to the Colorado State Library, the new state did not have time to organize a presidential election, so its legislature chose the electors.2 The state constitution, adopted by Colorado voters on July 1, 1876, provided for this in a one-time section of its Schedule.3 That section let the first General Assembly appoint electors by a bill that need not be printed or sent to a committee, and that needed no approval from the governor.4
At the constitutional convention, the Judiciary Committee had recommended that the first electors be chosen by direct vote of the people.5 On March 14, 1876, the convention instead passed a resolution from delegate Henry C. Thatcher, 23 to 1, to fast-track the choice of electors by the new legislature.6 A separate section, adopted 17 to 4, required that after 1876 the state's electors be chosen by direct vote of the people.7
Republicans controlled the legislature, and Colorado's 3 electors voted for Rutherford B. Hayes.8 Hayes won the presidency by 185 electoral votes to 184.9 It was the last presidential election in which a state legislature appointed a state's electors.10
The electoral votes of four states were disputed. Congress referred the matter to the Electoral Commission, which it established for the sole purpose of determining the winner of the election. The Electoral Commission gave the decision to Rutherford B. Hayes.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1876, 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
Colorado became a state just three months before election day, 1876.
coloradovirtuallibrary.org/?p=1088 Because Colorado became a state in August, and election day occurred in November
coloradovirtuallibrary.org/?p=1088 - Back to sentence 2
the new state did not have time to organize a Presidential election, so the Colorado legislature selected the state
coloradovirtuallibrary.org/?p=1088 - Back to sentence 3
The Colorado Constitution was adopted by a vote of the people of Colorado on July 1, 1876.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 For the 1876 presidential election, there was a one-time-only provision. Under section 19 of the Schedule, Colorado's presidential electors for 1876 would be chosen by the general assembly
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 - Back to sentence 4
provide by act or joint resolution for the appointment by said general assembly of electors in the electoral college, and such joint resolution or the bill for such enactment may be passed without being printed or referred to any committee
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 and the approval of the governor thereto shall not be necessary.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 - Back to sentence 5
The Judiciary Committee report had recommended that Colorado's first electors by chosen by direct vote of the people
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 - Back to sentence 6
The next morning, on March 14, the Convention took up the judiciary report.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 The Thatcher resolution instructed the Committee upon revision to add new material to the Schedule to fast-track the selection of presidential electors by the new state legislature.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 The Thatcher resolution passed 23 to 1.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 - Back to sentence 7
Section 20, for direct votes for presidential electors after 1876, was adopted 17 to 4.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895 - Back to sentence 8
The Legislature was controlled by the Republicans at the time
coloradovirtuallibrary.org/?p=1088 California 6 6 - 6 - Colorado 3 3 - 3 - Connecticut 6
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 For President For Vice-President Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio Samuel J. Tilden, of New York
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 - Back to sentence 9
Electoral Vote Winner: 185 Main Opponent: 184 Total/Majority: 369/185
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 - Back to sentence 10
Indeed, the election of 1876 was the last time any state legislature appointed a state's presidential electors.
leg.colorado.gov/summary_attachments/42895
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
Every sentence above links to the page it comes from, with the exact words quoted. On that date a script re-read each cited page and confirmed that every quote is on it. How these stories are made · Report an error