Before 1891, Michigan law called for the state's presidential electors to be elected by general ticket.1 A law approved on May 1, 1891, changed that: one elector would be elected in each of the state's 12 congressional districts, plus one elector at large in each of two districts that the act defined.2 On May 2, 1892, a group of nominees for presidential elector asked the Michigan Supreme Court to declare the act void.3 The state court and then the U.S. Supreme Court, in McPherson v. Blacker, upheld the law.4 The Court said it was difficult to see why, if a legislature chose appointment by popular vote, that vote had to be by general ticket rather than by districts.5
In the 1892 election, Republican Benjamin Harrison received 9 of Michigan's electoral votes and Democrat Grover Cleveland received 5.6 According to Ballot Access News, Harrison would have won all of them without the district plan, which the state used only in 1892.7 The split did not change the national result: Cleveland won the Electoral College, 277 to 145.8
McPherson v. Blacker is still cited: in 2020 the Supreme Court quoted it as describing the states' power over who becomes an elector as the broadest power of determination.9
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
Section 240 of Howell's Statutes, in force prior to May 1, 1891, provided: 'At the general election next preceding the choice of president and vice president of the United States, there shall be elected by general ticket
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 - Back to sentence 2
the act of the legislature, approved May 1, 1891,
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 the election of an elector and an alternate elector in each of the twelve congressional districts into which the state of Michigan is divided
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 and of an elector and an alternate elector at large in each of two districts defined by the act.
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 - Back to sentence 3
filed their petition and affidavits in the supreme court of the state of Michigan on May 2, 1892, as nominees for presidential electors
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 praying that the court declare the act of the legislature, approved May 1, 1891,
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 - Back to sentence 4
As we concur with the state court, its judgment has been affirmed;
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 Two Republican supreme courts, that of this state and of the United States, declared the law constitutional.
aadl.org/node/109145 - Back to sentence 5
it is difficult to perceive why, if the legislature prescribes as a method of appointment choice by vote, it must necessarily be by general ticket, and not by districts.
law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/146/1 - Back to sentence 6
The result in 1892 was that Republican presidential nominee Benjamin Harrison received 9 electoral votes in Michigan, and Democratic nominee Grover Cleveland won 5 electoral votes.
ballot-access.org/?p=32359 - Back to sentence 7
If the district plan had not been in effect, Harrison would have won all Michigan
ballot-access.org/?p=32359 That was in place for the 1892 presidential election, but afterwards the state gave up the plan.
ballot-access.org/?p=32359 - Back to sentence 8
However, the Michigan system did not change the identity of the winner; Cleveland beat Harrison overwhelmingly in the electoral college, 277 to 145
ballot-access.org/?p=32359 - Back to sentence 9
This Court has described that clause as “conveying the broadest power of determination” over who becomes an elector. McPherson v. Blacker, 146 U. S. 1,
supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-465_i425.pdf
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