Presidential Balloting, RNC 1860
Contender: ballot	1st	2d	3d before shifts	3d after shifts
Abraham Lincoln	102	181	231.5	340
William H. Seward	173.5	184.5	180	121.5
Simon Cameron	50.5	2	--	--
Salmon P. Chase	49	42.5	24.5	2
Edward Bates	48	35	22	--
Others	43	21	8	2.5

The 2d Republican Party National Convention assembled in the Wigwam in Chicago IL with 466 delegates present. This was the first national convention held in a building especially constructed for the convention.

One of the first challenges facing the convention was the number of delegates present from Southern States. Almost all of these delegates were challenged on the basis that the Republican Party had little chance of carrying slave states, so the delegates should not be allowed to participate in the selection of the national ticket. After a debate on the issue, southern delegations were reduced from the standard two delegates per electoral vote and were seated. During the first ballot for president, the convention also voted to abandon the Unit Rule for this convention.

At the end of the third ballot, Abraham Lincoln was just two votes short of a majority in the balloting for President. Four delegates in Ohio shifted their votes to him to give him the nomination, and other delegates followed suit. Hannibal Hamlin was nominated for VP on the second ballot over Cassius M. Clay and John Hickman.

Temporary Chairman: David Wilmot (PA)

Permanent Chairman: George Ashmun (MA)

1st Republican National Convention (1856)

3d Republican (National Union Party) National Convention (1864)