The American Vote

1860
1867

Era · 2 elections

Civil War

Elections

Civil War: winner of each election
YearWinnerElectoral votesPopular voteRunner-up
1860Abraham Lincoln
180
of 303
Not computed
state counts not sourced
John C. Breckinridge
72 electoral votes
1864Abraham Lincoln
212
of 233
Not computed
state counts not sourced
George B. McClellan
21 electoral votes

Popular vote is the sum of the sourced state counts, shown only where every state that held a popular vote has one; sums from county returns (1868–1972) can run a few tenths of a point below national totals published elsewhere.

Electoral votesNational Archives, Electoral College results: 1860, 1864 (public domain, read 2026-10-03). How these figures were compiled

Closest and widest margins

Closest

1860Abraham Lincoln, 180 of 303 electoral votes · margin 108

Widest

1864Abraham Lincoln, 212 of 233 electoral votes · margin 191

Margin is the winner’s electoral votes minus those of the next-highest candidate, as on the closest-elections ranking. Elections of 1789–1800 (two votes per elector) and those decided by the House are not ranked.

From the National Archives

Abraham Lincoln was shot by an assassin on the night of April 14, 1865, and died the following morning. He was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson, who took the oath of office on April 15, 1865.

National Archives, Electoral College results for 1864, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.