1878–79 United States House of Representatives elections

In most states, the elections were held November 5, 1878.

In 1845, Congress set a uniform nationwide date for choosing presidential electors.^[2] This Act of Congress did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of state governments, but over time, the states moved their congressional elections to this date as well. In this cycle, there were still 7 states with earlier election dates, and 1 with a later election date:

• Early elections
  • June 3, 1878: Oregon
  • September 3, 1878: Vermont
  • September 9, 1878: Maine
  • October 7, 1878: Indiana
  • October 8, 1878: Iowa, Ohio, West Virginia
• Standard election date
  • November 5, 1878
• Late election
  • September 3, 1879: California

California's elections were the last time a state held congressional general elections after November.

Elections are listed by date and district.

Patterson successfully contested the election and was seated March 4, 1877.

In the 2nd district the difference between the two candidates, in the initial returns, was just 22 votes. Bisbee challenged Hull's election, and was eventually awarded the seat on January 22, 1881.

South Carolina was rampant with voter fraud, particularly through the use of tissue ballots, thin ballots hidden in the normal ballot, typically 10 to 20 at a time. The almost statewide exclusion of Republicans as Commissioners of Elections, and the ensuing appointment of nearly all Democratic Managers of Elections, allowed to Democratic Managers to perpetrate this scheme. When the votes were counted and more votes than voters were found, the Managers removed and destroyed the Republican ballots resulting in the complete takeover of the state.^[6][7][8]