From what I've heard, by 1800 the Federalists and Republicans had established a system where they'd each nominate two candidates, one for president and the other for vice president. In the previous two elections, each party had more than two candidates. With more than two, there wasn't a risk of them all receiving a majority, with the same number of electoral votes. With two, it was very easy for a slip-up to result in two candidates getting the same number of electoral votes, which is exactly what happened in 1800. IIRC, the plan was for one of the electors to cast one of their votes for someone else.
How could the same sort of precedent of the past two elections remain, with each party having more than two candidates? Perhaps someone with greater knowledge of that period could enlighten me.
How could the same sort of precedent of the past two elections remain, with each party having more than two candidates? Perhaps someone with greater knowledge of that period could enlighten me.