How did stuff like this happen?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Looking at all the really old election results, you see canidates getting upwards up 95% of the vote in states, and it being pretty common!?  It's so hard to believe a state could be so solid to one party, especially considering how it is now, where a canidate getting 70% of the vote is borderline bizarre.

[zachman]

These landslides have occured primarily in the South. The south has had extremely low turnout because of their voter turnouts and would always vote democratic. FDR won some non-southern states overwhelmingly in 1936. Which elections are you refering to?

[tigerfan04]

In the early 1900's many southern states prevented blacks(who voted republican at the time) from voting, only allowing the largely democratic white population to vote.

[Reaganfan]

Landslides happen because people like the people who win.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

1. Fraud
2. A nation still divided on Civil War lines
3. Intimidation of Black/Irish/etc. voters
4. Propaganda that makes the Willie Horton ad look mild

[PBrunsel]

Landsllides such as South Carolina in 1932 where President Hoover only got 1% roughly of the vote happened due to fraud. In Texas in 1932, a large group oif Mexicans wanted to vote for President Hoover, but were scared away by revolver toting Ranchmen.

Another strange thing is in 1832 Andrew Jackson got 100% of the vote in Georgia! Strange, but true.

[zachman]

Did they actually make ballots in the early 1800's?

[PBrunsel]

Yes, but some were rather primitive. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln wasn't even incluided on 6 southern state's ballots. The same went for General Fremont in 1856.