Description & Citation--Study No. 1

Bibliographic Description

Study No.:

00001

Title:

United States Historical Election Returns, 1824-1968

Principal Investigator(s):

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Funding:

National Science Foundation (GS881)

Bibliographic Citation:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. United States Historical Election Returns, 1824-1968 [Computer File]. ICPSR00001-v3. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1999-04-26. doi:10.3886/ICPSR00001.v3

Series:

United States Historical Election Returns Series

Scope of Study

Summary:

This collection of historical election data contains state files that list county-level returns for over 90 percent of all elections to the offices of president, governor, United States senator, and United States representative from 1824 through 1968. The data files include returns for all parties and candidates (as well as write-in and scattering votes if available for individual states), and for special elections as well as regularly-scheduled contests. Over 1,000 individual party names and many additional unaffiliated candidates are included.

Subject Terms:

candidates, congressional elections, counties, election returns, elections, gubernatorial elections, historical data, political attitudes, political behavior, political parties, presidential elections, senatorial elections, states (USA)

Geographic Coverage:

United States

Time Period:

  • 1824--1968

Data Types:

aggregate data, survey data

Data Collection Notes:

The election data have been matched-merged and fixed-formatted within states. Because of the volume of data available for some states, it was necessary to store the election returns in more than one file per state.

County names have been standardized, including names for counties that have experienced name changes over time. In addition to the names, a county identification number was added to all county-level records. This number allows unique identification of all counties within states.

Data for elections to the office of United States representative have been collapsed to the whole-county level.

The election data files for each county contain the congressional district number of that county at the time of each election for the office of United States representative. When a county was divided into more than one congressional district, a code value indicating the number of congressional districts into which the county was divided was inserted in place of the congressional district number. It is thus possible to aggregate to the congressional district level all county-level election data (except in the case of split-district counties), and to perform the aggregations for the districts as they were constituted for any Congress.

Counties may have been assigned a congressional district number of zero if they were not in existence at the time of the election, did not report vote totals, or did not participate in that election.

For 1970 to 1990 election returns data, see GENERAL ELECTION DATA FOR THE UNITED STATES, 1970-1990 (ICPSR 0013).

Part 204, a listing of political party codes used in all data files, is an ASCII text file included as supplementary documentation. There is no actual codebook for this collection. Variable information is contained in the setup files. Some variable labels are cryptic. For example, the variable label V34="825 2 GOV 9001 VOTE" is interpreted as year of election/code for elected office/type of election/elected office/party code.

There are data for one race in Delaware from 1823 included in the collection, though this year is not reflected in the title.

Methodology

Data Source:

official election returns provided by state governments

Extent of Processing:

All archived data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. The archive also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, the archive performed the following processing steps for this data collection:

  • Performed consistency checks.
  • Standardized missing values.

Access and Availability

Note:

Detailed file-level information (such as record length, case count, and variable count) is listed in the file manifest.

Original ICPSR Release:

1984-06-19

Version History:

  • 1999-04-26 A machine-readable listing of political party codes has been added to the collection as Part 204.

  • 1997-09-26 SAS and SPSS data definition statements have been generated for all parts, and reformatted logical record length data files are now available for Parts 12, 33, 34, 35, 84, 96, 101, 104, 130, 156, and 194.

Dataset(s):

  • DS1: Election Returns for Connecticut, 1824-1860
  • DS2: Election Returns for Connecticut, 1861-1904
  • DS3: Election Returns for Connecticut, 1906-1942
  • DS4: Election Returns for Connecticut, 1944-1968
  • DS5: Election Returns for Maine, 1824-1873
  • DS6: Election Returns for Maine, 1874-1902
  • DS7: Election Returns for Maine, 1906-1944
  • DS8: Election Returns for Maine, 1946-1968
  • DS9: Election Returns for Massachusetts, 1824-1855
  • DS10: Election Returns for Massachusetts, 1856-1895
  • DS11: Election Returns for Massachusetts, 1896-1928
  • DS12: Election Returns for Massachusetts, 1930-1964
  • DS13: Election Returns for Massachusetts, 1964-1968
  • DS14: Election Returns for New Hampshire, 1824-1871
  • DS15: Election Returns for New Hampshire, 1872-1875
  • DS16: Election Returns for New Hampshire, 1876-1918
  • DS17: Election Returns for New Hampshire, 1920-1926
  • DS18: Election Returns for New Hampshire, 1928-1964
  • DS19: Election Returns for New Hampshire, 1966-1968
  • DS20: Election Returns for Rhode Island, 1824-1866
  • DS21: Election Returns for Rhode Island, 1867-1899
  • DS22: Election Returns for Rhode Island, 1900-1903
  • DS23: Election Returns for Rhode Island, 1904-1938
  • DS24: Election Returns for Rhode Island, 1940-1944
  • DS25: Election Returns for Rhode Island, 1946-1968
  • DS26: Election Returns for Vermont, 1824-1866
  • DS27: Election Returns for Vermont, 1867-1910
  • DS28: Election Returns for Vermont, 1912-1914
  • DS29: Election Returns for Vermont, 1916-1950
  • DS30: Election Returns for Vermont, 1952-1958
  • DS31: Election Returns for Vermont, 1960-1968
  • DS32: Election Returns for Delaware, 1823-1876
  • DS33: Election Returns for Delaware, 1878-1920
  • DS34: Election Returns for Delaware, 1922-1926
  • DS35: Election Returns for Delaware, 1928-1968
  • DS36: Election Returns for New Jersey, 1824-1874
  • DS37: Election Returns for New Jersey, 1876-1882
  • DS38: Election Returns for New Jersey, 1883-1922
  • DS39: Election Returns for New Jersey, 1924-1953
  • DS40: Election Returns for New Jersey, 1954-1968
  • DS41: Election Returns for New York, 1824-1854
  • DS42: Election Returns for New York, 1856-1884
  • DS43: Election Returns for New York, 1885-1906
  • DS44: Election Returns for New York, 1908-1922
  • DS45: Election Returns for New York, 1923-1933
  • DS46: Election Returns for New York, 1934-1938
  • DS47: Election Returns for New York, 1940-1952
  • DS48: Election Returns for New York, 1954-1968
  • DS49: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1824-1876
  • DS50: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1878-1882
  • DS51: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1884-1899
  • DS52: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1900
  • DS53: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1901-1915
  • DS54: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1916-1928
  • DS55: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1930-1964
  • DS56: Election Returns for Pennsylvania, 1966-1968
  • DS57: Election Returns for Illinois, 1824-1878
  • DS58: Election Returns for Illinois, 1880-1910
  • DS59: Election Returns for Illinois, 1912-1930
  • DS60: Election Returns for Illinois, 1932-1968
  • DS61: Election Returns for Indiana, 1824-1872
  • DS62: Election Returns for Indiana, 1874-1926
  • DS63: Election Returns for Indiana, 1928-1968
  • DS64: Election Returns for Michigan, 1835-1874
  • DS65: Election Returns for Michigan, 1876-1886
  • DS66: Election Returns for Michigan, 1888-1920
  • DS67: Election Returns for Michigan, 1922-1928
  • DS68: Election Returns for Michigan, 1930-1960
  • DS69: Election Returns for Michigan, 1962-1968
  • DS70: Election Returns for Ohio, 1824-1873
  • DS71: Election Returns for Ohio, 1874-1878
  • DS72: Election Returns for Ohio, 1879-1916
  • DS73: Election Returns for Ohio, 1918-1920
  • DS74: Election Returns for Ohio, 1922-1948
  • DS75: Election Returns for Ohio, 1950
  • DS76: Election Returns for Ohio, 1952-1968
  • DS77: Election Returns for Wisconsin, 1848-1884
  • DS78: Election Returns for Wisconsin, 1886-1890
  • DS79: Election Returns for Wisconsin, 1892-1926
  • DS80: Election Returns for Wisconsin, 1928-1931
  • DS81: Election Returns for Wisconsin, 1932-1968
  • DS82: Election Returns for Iowa, 1846-1887
  • DS83: Election Returns for Iowa, 1888-1923
  • DS84: Election Returns for Iowa, 1924-1926
  • DS85: Election Returns for Iowa, 1928-1958
  • DS86: Election Returns for Iowa, 1960-1968
  • DS87: Election Returns for Kansas, 1862-1898
  • DS88: Election Returns for Kansas, 1900-1936
  • DS89: Election Returns for Kansas, 1938-1943
  • DS90: Election Returns for Kansas, 1944-1968
  • DS91: Election Returns for Minnesota, 1857-1902
  • DS92: Election Returns for Minnesota, 1904-1908
  • DS93: Election Returns for Minnesota, 1910-1946
  • DS94: Election Returns for Minnesota, 1948-1950
  • DS95: Election Returns for Minnesota, 1952-1968
  • DS96: Election Returns for Missouri, 1824-1872
  • DS97: Election Returns for Missouri, 1874-1922
  • DS98: Election Returns for Missouri, 1924-1968
  • DS99: Election Returns for Nebraska, 1866-1908
  • DS100: Election Returns for Nebraska, 1910-1912
  • DS101: Election Returns for Nebraska, 1914-1948
  • DS102: Election Returns for Nebraska, 1950-1952
  • DS103: Election Returns for Nebraska, 1954-1968
  • DS104: Election Returns for North Dakota, 1889-1926
  • DS105: Election Returns for North Dakota, 1928-1962
  • DS106: Election Returns for North Dakota, 1964-1968
  • DS107: Election Returns for South Dakota, 1889-1932
  • DS108: Election Returns for South Dakota, 1934-1968
  • DS109: Election Returns for Virginia, 1824-1888
  • DS110: Election Returns for Virginia, 1893-1929
  • DS111: Election Returns for Virginia, 1930-1932
  • DS112: Election Returns for Virginia, 1933-1968
  • DS113: Election Returns for Alabama, 1824-1874
  • DS114: Election Returns for Alabama, 1876-1918
  • DS115: Election Returns for Alabama, 1920-1960
  • DS116: Election Returns for Alabama, 1962-1968
  • DS117: Election Returns for Arkansas, 1836-1890
  • DS118: Election Returns for Arkansas, 1892-1902
  • DS119: Election Returns for Arkansas, 1904-1940
  • DS120: Election Returns for Arkansas, 1942
  • DS121: Election Returns for Arkansas, 1944-1968
  • DS122: Election Returns for Florida, 1845-1900
  • DS123: Election Returns for Florida, 1902-1914
  • DS124: Election Returns for Florida, 1916-1956
  • DS125: Election Returns for Florida, 1958-1968
  • DS126: Election Returns for Georgia, 1824-1860
  • DS127: Election Returns for Georgia, 1868-1930
  • DS128: Election Returns for Georgia, 1932-1946
  • DS129: Election Returns for Georgia, 1948-1968
  • DS130: Election Returns for Louisiana, 1824-1892
  • DS131: Election Returns for Louisiana, 1894-1938
  • DS132: Election Returns for Louisiana, 1940-1948
  • DS133: Election Returns for Louisiana, 1950-1968
  • DS134: Election Returns for Mississippi, 1824-1896
  • DS135: Election Returns for Mississippi, 1898-1941
  • DS136: Election Returns for Mississippi, 1942-1951
  • DS137: Election Returns for Mississippi, 1952-1968
  • DS138: Election Returns for North Carolina, 1824-1874
  • DS139: Election Returns for North Carolina, 1876-1928
  • DS140: Election Returns for North Carolina, 1930-1936
  • DS141: Election Returns for North Carolina, 1938-1968
  • DS142: Election Returns for South Carolina, 1824-1894
  • DS143: Election Returns for South Carolina, 1896-1904
  • DS144: Election Returns for South Carolina, 1906-1940
  • DS145: Election Returns for South Carolina, 1942-1968
  • DS146: Election Returns for Texas, 1846-1896
  • DS147: Election Returns for Texas, 1898-1931
  • DS148: Election Returns for Texas, 1932-1936
  • DS149: Election Returns for Texas, 1937-1968
  • DS150: Election Returns for Kentucky, 1824-1875
  • DS151: Election Returns for Kentucky, 1876-1880
  • DS152: Election Returns for Kentucky, 1882-1928
  • DS153: Election Returns for Kentucky, 1929-1959
  • DS154: Election Returns for Kentucky, 1960-1968
  • DS155: Election Returns for Maryland, 1824-1880
  • DS156: Election Returns for Maryland, 1882-1924
  • DS157: Election Returns for Maryland, 1926-1968
  • DS158: Election Returns for Oklahoma, 1907-1938
  • DS159: Election Returns for Oklahoma, 1940-1948
  • DS160: Election Returns for Oklahoma, 1950-1968
  • DS161: Election Returns for Tennessee, 1825-1882
  • DS162: Election Returns for Tennessee, 1884-1930
  • DS163: Election Returns for Tennessee, 1932-1968
  • DS164: Election Returns for West Virginia, 1863-1916
  • DS165: Election Returns for West Virginia, 1918-1954
  • DS166: Election Returns for West Virginia, 1956-1968
  • DS167: Election Returns for Arizona, 1911-1944
  • DS168: Election Returns for Arizona, 1946-1952
  • DS169: Election Returns for Arizona, 1954-1968
  • DS170: Election Returns for Colorado, 1876-1910
  • DS171: Election Returns for Colorado, 1912-1914
  • DS172: Election Returns for Colorado, 1916-1946
  • DS173: Election Returns for Colorado, 1948-1968
  • DS174: Election Returns for Idaho, 1890-1924
  • DS175: Election Returns for Idaho, 1926-1934
  • DS176: Election Returns for Idaho, 1936-1968
  • DS177: Election Returns for Montana, 1889-1932
  • DS178: Election Returns for Montana, 1934-1968
  • DS179: Election Returns for Nevada, 1864-1912
  • DS180: Election Returns for Nevada, 1914-1924
  • DS181: Election Returns for Nevada, 1926-1960
  • DS182: Election Returns for Nevada, 1962-1968
  • DS183: Election Returns for New Mexico, 1911-1942
  • DS184: Election Returns for New Mexico, 1944-1968
  • DS185: Election Returns for Utah, 1896-1936
  • DS186: Election Returns for Utah, 1938-1946
  • DS187: Election Returns for Utah, 1948-1968
  • DS188: Election Returns for Wyoming, 1890-1930
  • DS189: Election Returns for Wyoming, 1932-1968
  • DS190: Election Returns for California, 1849-1894
  • DS191: Election Returns for California, 1896-1900
  • DS192: Election Returns for California, 1902-1936
  • DS193: Election Returns for California, 1938-1944
  • DS194: Election Returns for California, 1946-1968
  • DS195: Election Returns for Oregon, 1858-1904
  • DS196: Election Returns for Oregon, 1906-1916
  • DS197: Election Returns for Oregon, 1918-1952
  • DS198: Election Returns for Oregon, 1954-1968
  • DS199: Election Returns for Washington, 1889-1924
  • DS200: Election Returns for Washington, 1926-1930
  • DS201: Election Returns for Washington, 1932-1968
  • DS202: Election Returns for Alaska, 1958-1968
  • DS203: Election Returns for Hawaii, 1959-1968
  • DS204: Political Party Codes

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