Federalist Partycandidate John Adams won the 1796 presidential election defeatingDemocratic-Republican Party candidate Thomas Jefferson. Accordingto the prevailing rules of electoral college voting at that time,electors cast votes for two persons. Electors could not distinguishbetween their presidential and vice-presidential choices until thepassage of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitutionin 1804. In 1796, the recipient of the most electoral votes wouldbecome president and the runner-up vice-president. In the 1796presidential election a majority of 70 votes were needed to win thepresidential election. John Adams was elected president with 71electoral votes. Thomas Jefferson finished second with 68 electoralvotes. Others receiving votes included Thomas Pinckney (59), AaronBurr (30), Samuel Adams (15), O. Ellsworth (11), George Clinton(7), John Jay (5), James Iredell (3), S. Johnston (2), GeorgeWashington (2), John Henry (2), and Charles C. Pinckney (1).Jefferson received the second highest number of electoral votes andwas elected vice president according to the prevailing rules ofelectoral college voting at that time.