George W. Bush carried Ohio in 2004 with 2,859,768 votes to John F. Kerry's 2,741,167, a margin of 118,601, or 50.81 percent to 48.71 percent.1 Ohio had 20 electoral votes, and Bush won 286 in all, with 270 needed to win.2 Without Ohio, Bush would have had 266 electoral votes, and Kerry, with Ohio added to his 251, would have had 271.3
When Congress counted the electoral votes in 2005, Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Senator Barbara Boxer of California objected in writing to Ohio's votes.4 Their objection alleged that the votes were not regularly given, and the Congressional Research Service describes it as related to reported voting irregularities in Ohio.5 The two chambers withdrew from the joint session to consider it, with debate limited to not more than two hours.6 The Senate rejected the objection 74 to 1 and the House 267 to 31, and Ohio's electoral votes were then counted as cast.7 It was the second time since the 1887 law that the two houses had separately debated and voted on such an objection; the first, in 1969, concerned a North Carolina elector.8
During the counting of the vote in Congress, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) and Sen. Barabara Boxer (D-Calif.) raised objections to the Ohio Certificate of Vote alleging that the votes were not regularly given. Both houses voted to override the objection, 74 to 1 in the Senate and 267 to 31 in the House of Representatives.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 2004, 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
2,859,768 2,741,167 14,676 11,939 192 114 22 17 11 2 5,627,908 50.81% 48.71%
fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2004.pdf OHIO (20 Electoral Votes) Bush, George W. Kerry, John F. Badnarik, Michael
fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2004.pdf - Back to sentence 2
OHIO (20 Electoral Votes) Bush, George W. Kerry, John F. Badnarik, Michael
fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2004.pdf Electoral Vote Winner: 286 Main Opponent: 251 Total/Majority: 538/270
archives.gov/electoral-college/2004 - Back to sentence 3
Electoral Vote Winner: 286 Main Opponent: 251 Total/Majority: 538/270
archives.gov/electoral-college/2004 OHIO (20 Electoral Votes) Bush, George W. Kerry, John F. Badnarik, Michael
fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2004.pdf - Back to sentence 4
In 2005, a Representative (Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio) and a Senator (Barbara Boxer of California) objected in writing to the Ohio electoral votes.
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html - Back to sentence 5
raised objections to the Ohio Certificate of Vote alleging that the votes were not regularly given.
archives.gov/electoral-college/2004 The second instance related to reported voting irregularities in Ohio.
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html - Back to sentence 6
The chambers withdrew from the joint session to consider the objection, and the House and Senate each rejected the objection.
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html These procedures limit debate on the objection to not more than two hours
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html - Back to sentence 7
Both houses voted to override the objection, 74 to 1 in the Senate and 267 to 31 in the House of Representatives.
archives.gov/electoral-college/2004 When the House and Senate resumed the joint session, the electoral votes were counted as cast.
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html - Back to sentence 8
These procedures have been invoked twice since enactment of the 1887 law.
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html In 1969, a Representative (James O'Hara of Michigan) and a Senator (Edmund S. Muskie of Maine) objected in writing to counting the vote of an elector from North Carolina
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32717.html
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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