 Voters cast their ballots on November 3 , and that evening gathered in cities and around telegraph offices . In places like New York , the results were projected by stereopticon onto the sides of newspaper buildings . The election was considered by many to be the most crucial since 1860 , and large numbers of voters followed the returns all night . McKinley cast his ballot early , going with his brother Abner to the polling place , and met Hanna for lunch . That evening , McKinley sat in his library as the returns came in by telegraph . It was quickly apparent that McKinley was leading , and by midnight he had pencilled the figure " 241 " on a pad , the number of electoral votes of states that were certain , enough for victory . Hanna wired from Cleveland to Canton , " The feeling here beggars description ... I will not attempt bulletins . You are elected to the highest office of the land by a people who always loved and trusted you . " 
