Recap of the Popular Vote
The popular vote was cast on 11/6/1928. Herbert Hoover defeated Alfred Smith in a race in which turnout increased 30% over the 1924 race.
Electoral Vote
The Presidential Electors met in their respective state capitols on 1/2/1929 to cast the electoral vote. All Presidential Electors voted for the nominees of their particular parties. For the first time in American history, the state gatherings of the Presidential Electors did not appoint messengers to deliver copies of the Certificate of Vote to the Office of the Vice President. Instead, the certificates were sent by certified mail.
Counting the Vote
Congress met in joint session on 2/13/1929 to count the electoral votes. At 1:00, David S. Barry, sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. Senate, entered the House chamber, followed by two 16 year old pages carrying special mahogany boxes containing the certificates of vote from the states. Vice President Dawes and President pro tempore George Moses followed, then floor leaders Reed Smoot and Furnifold Simmons. Most other Senators followed, but Sen. Curtis, the Vice President-elect, took a brisk walk outside the Capitol building.
Four tellers were appointed: two from each chamber. They were Senators Samuel Shortridge (R-CA) and William King (D-UT) and Representatives Charles Gifford (R-MA) and Lamar Jeffers (D-AL). Three Senators who w
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Recap of the Popular Vote
The popular vote was cast on 11/6/1928. Herbert Hoover defeated Alfred Smith in a race in which turnout increased 30% over the 1924 race.
Electoral Vote
The Presidential Electors met in their respective state capitols on 1/2/1929 to cast the electoral vote. All Presidential Electors voted for the nominees of their particular parties. For the first time in American history, the state gatherings of the Presidential Electors did not appoint messengers to deliver copies of the Certificate of Vote to the Office of the Vice President. Instead, the certificates were sent by certified mail.
Counting the Vote
Congress met in joint session on 2/13/1929 to count the electoral votes. At 1:00, David S. Barry, sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. Senate, entered the House chamber, followed by two 16 year old pages carrying special mahogany boxes containing the certificates of vote from the states. Vice President Dawes and President pro tempore George Moses followed, then floor leaders Reed Smoot and Furnifold Simmons. Most other Senators followed, but Sen. Curtis, the Vice President-elect, took a brisk walk outside the Capitol building.
Four tellers were appointed: two from each chamber. They were Senators Samuel Shortridge (R-CA) and William King (D-UT) and Representatives Charles Gifford (R-MA) and Lamar Jeffers (D-AL). Three Senators who were contenders for the nominations observed the proceedings: James Watson (R-IN), Guy Goff (R-WV), and Thomas Walsh (D-MT).
Only one state was expected to be challenged. The result in Alabama was challenged by the state Republicans, and the state's delegation in Congress, which had supported Hoover even though they were Democrats, appeared likely to challenge the state's vote. When the result was announced, the Alabama delegation chose not to challenge the result.
The reporter for the New York Times reported that "the highlight of the tally" was when Gifford read that his home state (MA) had gone for Smith, resulting in cheers and laughter from the audience. Republicans returned the favor when the certificates from Texas and Virginia were read, as it was the first time Texas had voted Republican and the first time since 1872 that Virginia had.
After all certificates had been read, VP Dawes declared Hoover and Curtis to have been elected.
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