election. The "margin" column shows the difference between the two leading candidates, and the "swing" column shows the margin swing from the respective party's nominee from 1972 to 1976. Maine allowed its electoral votes to be split between candidates. Two electoral votes were awarded to the winner of the statewide race and one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. Ford won all four votes. Close states States where margin of victory was under 1% (35 electoral votes): Oregon, 0.16% (1,713 votes) Ohio, 0.27% (11,116 votes) Maine's 2nd Congressional District, 0.28% (620 votes) Maine, 0.84% (4,041 votes) States where margin of victory was under 5% (264 electoral votes): Iowa, 1.01% (12,932 votes) Oklahoma, 1.21% (13,266 votes) Virginia, 1.34% (22,658 votes) Maine's 1st Congressional District, 1.36% (3,421 votes) South Dakota, 1.48% (4,437 votes) Wisconsin, 1.68% (35,245 votes) (tipping point state) California, 1.78% (139,960 votes) Mississippi, 1.88% (14,463 votes) Illinois, 1.97% (92,974 votes) New Jersey, 2.16% (65,035 votes) New Mexico, 2.47% (10,271 votes) Hawaii, 2.53% (7,372 votes) Pennsylvania, 2.66% (123,073 votes) Texas, 3.17% (129,019 votes) Missouri, 3.63% (70,944 votes) Washington, 3.88% (60,409 votes) Nevada, 4.36% (8,794 votes) New York, 4.43% (288,767 votes) States where margin of victory was more than 5%, but less than 10% (105 electoral votes): Connecticut, 5.16% (71,366 votes) Florida, 5.29% (166,469 votes) Michigan, 5.39% (197,028 votes) Delaware, 5.41% (12,765 votes) Louisiana, 5.78% (73,919 votes) North Dakota, 5.86% (17,392 votes) Maryland, 6.08% (86,951 votes) Kentucky, 7.18% (83,865 votes) Montana, 7.44% (24,444 votes) Kansas, 7.55% (72,331 votes) Indiana, 7.62% (169,244 votes) Statistics Counties with Highest Percent of Vote (Democratic) Banks County, Georgia 87.85% Starr County, Texas 87.25% Brantley County, Georgia 86.50% Duval County, Texas 86.36% Wilcox County, Georgia 86.15% Counties with Highest Percent of Vote (Republican) Jackson County, Kentucky 79.80% Owsley County, Kentucky 77.03% Hooker County, Nebraska 76.35% Ottawa County, Michigan 74.12% Arthur County, Nebraska 73.66% Voter demographics Source: CBS News/New York Times interviews with 12,782 voters as they left the polls, as reported in The New York Times, November 9, 1980, p. 28, and in further analysis. The 1976 data are from CBS News interviews. See also Presidency of Jimmy Carter History of the United States (1964–1980) 1976 United States House of Representatives elections 1976 United States Senate elections 1976 United States gubernatorial elections Inauguration of Jimmy Carter Notes References Further reading Chester, Edward W A guide to political platforms (1977) online Johnstone, Andrew, and Andrew Priest,