15. The election of 1876 saw the highest percentage of eligible voter turnout in American history
Besides being known for its controversial outcome, the election of 1876 featured the highest voter turnout in American history, with just over 80% of voters casting ballots. Or did it? One of the discoveries by those investigating the votes in the disputed states was that based on the number of ballots cast in South Carolina, 101% of voters showed up at the polls, an obvious problem. Another problem was that the political parties printed the ballots to be used by their voters, and Democrats in South Carolina ensured that a picture of Abraham Lincoln – the symbol of the Republican Party – appeared on their ballots, hoping to fool illiterate voters.
Undisputed electoral votes were obtained by dubious means as well, in the newly accepted state of Colorado. Colorado had been admitted into the Union in August and had not had the time to install the machinery of a presidential election, according to its governor, an appointed Republican. Colorado’s state legislature selected its electors, all three of whom were Republicans, and they awarded the state’s electoral votes to the Republican candidate, Hayes. It was to date the last time presidential electors were selected without the input of a popular vote.