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1868 Argentine general election
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Elecciones_presidenciales_de_Argentina_de_1868.png/200px-Elecciones_presidenciales_de_Argentina_de_1868.png) Most voted party by province.
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The
Argentine presidential election of 1868
was held on 12 April to choose the president of
Argentina
. Domingo Sarmiento was elected.
Background
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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 Pavon
. These candidates were all preferred by the president over that year's dark horse, former President
Justo Jose de Urquiza
(whom Mitre attempted to dissuade from running for fear of the separatist conflict his presence might provoke).
[1]
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.
[2]
Results
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Argentine Republic
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Population
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1,688,000
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Voters
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16,900
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Turnout
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1%
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Results by Province
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Notes
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References
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