[113] Republicans realized that if they held the three disputed unredeemed southern states together with some of the western states, they would emerge with an electoral college majority.[114]

Disputed electoral votes[edit]
Main articles: Compromise of 1877 and Electoral Commission (United States)
On November 11, three days after election day, Tilden appeared to have won 184 electoral votes, one short of a majority.[115] Hayes appeared to have 166, with the 19 votes of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina still in doubt.[115] Republicans and Democrats each claimed victory in the three latter states, but the results in those states were rendered uncertain because of fraud by both parties.[116] To further complicate matters, one of the three electors from Oregon (a state Hayes had won) was disqualified, reducing Hayes's total to 165, and raising the disputed votes to 20. [117][d] If Hayes was not awarded all 20 disputed votes, Tilden would be elected president.

