1868 Argentine presidential election

The Argentine presidential election of 1868 was held on 12 April to choose the president of Argentina. Domingo Sarmiento was elected.

Background

Presiding over a prosperous economy overshadowed somewhat by the costly Paraguayan War, President Mitre was at pains to avoid risking the tenuous national unity his administration had secured. Though he hand-picked prospective candidates, Mitre avoided the appearance of direct support for any one figure, while limiting the field to those he considered acceptable. Electors from Buenos Aires Province favored Autonomist Party candidate Adolfo Alsina, who was instead persuaded by Mitre to run for the vice-presidency. The nomination was handed to the Ambassador to the United States, Domingo Sarmiento, who remained at his post and did not campaign. Mitre also supported former Unitarian Party leader Rufino de Elizalde and his running mate General Wenceslao Paunero, a key figure in Mitre's victory at the Battle of Pavón. These candidates were all preferred by the president over that year's dark horse, former President Justo José de Urquiza (whom Mitre attempted to dissuade from running for fear of the separatist conflict his presence might provoke).

These candidates were, with the exception of Sarmiento, contentious in many circles and provided the new system its first real test. The electoral college met on 12 April 1868, and selected Sarmiento by 79 out of 131 votes, making this the only closely contested race during this era.

Results

Argentine Republic
Population	1,688,000
Voters	16,900
Turnout	1%

Presidential Candidates	Party	Electoral Votes
Domingo Sarmiento	Independent	79
Justo José de Urquiza	Federalist	26
Rufino de Elizalde	Liberal Party	22
Guillermo Rawson	Nacionalista	3
Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield	Unitarian	1
Total voters		131
Did not vote		25
Total		156

Vice Presidential Candidates	Party	Electoral Votes
Adolfo Alsina	Autonomist	82
Wenceslao Paunero	Unitarian	45
Manuel Anselmo Ocampo	—	2
Juan Bautista Alberdi	—	1
Francisco de las Carreras	—	1
Total voters		131
Did not vote		25
Total		156

Results by Province

Province	President						Vice President
	Sarmiento	Urquiza	de Elizalde	Rawson	Vélez Sarsfield		Alsina	Paunero	Ocampo	Alberdi	de las Carreras
Buenos Aires	24			3	1		25		2		1
Catamarca			10					10
Córdoba	16						3	13
Corrientes	Did not vote						Did not vote
Entre Ríos		8					8
Jujuy	7						4	3
La Rioja	6						6
Mendoza	10						10
Salta		10					10
San Juan	8						8
San Luis	8						8
Santa Fe		8						7		1
Santiago del Estero			12					12
Tucumán	The votes were not preserved						The votes were not preserved
Total	79	26	22	3	1		82	45	2	1	1