 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
In the1800 United States presidential election, electors to theUnited States Electoral College could be selected in each state at any time after October 31 and all electors were required to vote on December 3, 1800. Based on the constitutional provision in effect at that time, each elector cast two votes. The candidate receiving most votes would bePresident. The runner up would be electedVice President.[1]
During this election, theFederalist Party nominated incumbent PresidentJohn Adams ofMassachusetts and South Carolina native GeneralCharles Cotesworth Pinckney. TheDemocratic-Republican Party nominated incumbent Vice PresidentThomas Jefferson of Virginia andAaron Burr of New York.[2][3]
Federalists hoped to receive votes inSouth Carolina based on the presence on the ticket of native son, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. The Democratic-Republican campaign in the state was led by General Pinckney's first cousin, Senator Charles Pinckney, Jr.[4][3]
When the choice of South Carolina electors came before the state Legislature beginning in late November 1800, there was much discussion about a possible compromise whereby electors would be selected who would split their ballots between Federalist, General Pinckney and Democratic Republican, Jefferson. Ultimately on December 2, 1800, just one day before election day, the Legislature selected a slate of 8 electors, all of whom were committed to voting for Democratic Republican candidates.[5]
On election day, December 3, 1800, all of the 8 South Carolina electors cast their electoral votes for Jefferson and Burr.[3]
| Candidates |  | |
|---|---|---|
| General articles | ||
| Local results | ||
| Other 1800 elections | ||
