Molly Ayala
The electric chair was conceived in the late 19th century as a less violent method of execution than hanging. The first electric chair was built in 1888, and the first execution was carried out in 1890. The electric chair remained the most prominent execution method until the early 1990s, when it was replaced by lethal injection as the primary method in most states. However, several US states still authorize electrocution as a method of execution, and inmates in some states can choose to be executed by electric chair instead of lethal injection. Death by electric chair is not instantaneous and is considered inhumane due to the extreme pain and psychological trauma it causes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first use | 1890 |
| Year of first conception | 1881 |
| Year of last use | 2025 |
| Year it became outdated | 1990s |
| Year it was replaced in Indiana | 1995 |
| Number of states that have used it | 26 |
| Number of executions in the Philippines | 3 |
| Number of executions in Tennessee since 2018 | 5 |
| Number of botched electrocutions in Florida in the 1990s | 3 |
| Voltage | 2000 volts |
| Alternative methods | Lethal injection, lethal gas, firing squad |
| Primary execution method | Lethal injection |
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What You'll Learn
The electric chair was built to be humane
The electric chair was conceived in 1881 by a Buffalo, New York dentist named Alfred P. Southwick. It was developed over the next decade as a more humane alternative to conventional executions, particularly hanging. The idea for the electric chair came about following a series of accidents caused by high-voltage arc lighting, which killed people instantaneously without leaving a mark. One such accident involved a drunken dock worker who sneaked into a power plant at night and grabbed the brush and ground of a large electric dynamo, dying instantly.
In 1886, the New York State governor, David B. Hill, set up a death penalty commission to investigate a more humane means of execution. The commission surveyed the history of execution and sought the opinions of government officials, lawyers, and medical experts. The majority of respondents recommended hanging over electrocution, with a few recommending the abolition of capital punishment. However, the commission also contacted electrical experts, including Elihu Thomson and Thomas Edison, who recommended the use of high-voltage AC connected to the head and spine.
The first electric chair was built in 1888 by Edwin F. Davis, the first "state electrician" (executioner) for the State of New York. The chair was designed by George Fell, who positioned the electrodes at the head and middle of the back. The first person to be executed by electrocution was William Kemmler in 1890. The electric chair became the most prominent execution method until the early 1990s, after which it was downgraded to a backup method that inmates could choose.
While the electric chair was intended to be more humane than hanging, its effectiveness has been called into question. There have been several botched electrocutions, including the case of Willie Francis, who did not die during his execution in 1946 due to improper setup. In 1990, Jesse Tafero's face and head caught fire during his execution. The use of the electric chair has declined since the advent of lethal injection, which is now considered a more humane alternative.
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It kills by overwhelming the brain and heart
The electric chair was introduced as a more humane alternative to hanging. The idea was that the right voltage at the right amperage and frequency wouldn't hurt that much, if at all. It should simply overwhelm the brain and heart, killing the person before they feel much.
The electric chairs that were used were 2,000 volts. Electrodes were placed on the head and leg. The brain and body run on electricity, so when the switch is turned on, the brain is overwhelmed by the high voltage and current. The person immediately ceases to be a conscious entity. The heart continues to beat, but it doesn't matter how long it takes to stop because the brain is no longer active. It's fried.
The electric chair doesn't always work as intended, however. In 1946, the electric chair failed to kill Willie Francis, who reportedly cried out, "Take it off! Let me breathe!" It was discovered that the portable electric chair had been improperly set up by a drunk prison guard and inmate. In the 1990s, three botched electrocutions in Florida caused significant controversy. In one case, the condemned man's face and head caught fire.
Today, the electric chair is a method of the past. No other state has used it since 2013. Lethal injection is now the most widely-used method of execution. However, some inmates still choose electrocution because they fear being frozen in place and feeling intense discomfort while the drugs work to kill them.
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It's a backup method in several states
The electric chair was the most prominent execution method in the United States until the early 1990s. Since then, it has been downgraded to a backup method that an inmate can choose in several states, but it is rarely used.
In 2025, electrocution remained an option in Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida, where inmates may choose lethal injection instead. In Mississippi and Oklahoma, electrocution is provided for by law should lethal injection ever be held to be unconstitutional. Inmates in the other states must select either it or lethal injection. In Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, inmates sentenced before a certain date can choose to be executed by electric chair. These three states also authorise electrocution as an alternative if lethal injection is deemed unavailable.
In 2014, Tennessee passed a law allowing the use of the electric chair if lethal injection drugs were unavailable. In 1995, Indiana replaced the electric chair, nicknamed "Old Betsy", with lethal injection as the state's sole execution method.
The electric chair was conceived in 1881 as a more humane alternative to conventional executions, particularly hanging. It was first used in 1890 and became the most prominent execution method in the United States, replacing hanging. However, the use of the electric chair has declined with the adoption of lethal injection, which is perceived as more humane.
There have been several botched executions by electrocution in the United States. In 1946, the electric chair failed to kill Willie Francis, who reportedly screamed, "Take it off! Let me breathe!" It turned out that the portable electric chair had been improperly set up by an intoxicated prison guard and inmate. In 1990, Jesse Tafero's face and head caught fire during electrocution in Florida.
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It's not used as a sole execution method in any state
The electric chair was conceived in 1881 and first used in 1890. It was initially thought that death by electric chair occurred through cerebral damage, but it was scientifically established in 1899 that death primarily results from ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. The electric chair was the primary method of execution in the United States until the early 1990s, when lethal injection was introduced as a more humane alternative.
Since then, the use of the electric chair has declined, and it is no longer used as the sole execution method in any state. Nebraska was the last state to rely solely on the electric chair, but in 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that execution by electric chair was "cruel and unusual punishment" under the state constitution.
While some states still retain electrocution as a legal execution method, it is often a secondary option based on the prisoner's preference. For example, in Mississippi and Oklahoma, electrocution is authorized if lethal injection is deemed unconstitutional. Similarly, in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, inmates sentenced before a certain date can choose to be executed by electric chair, but those sentenced after that date will be executed by lethal injection.
In recent years, there has been a push by some legislators to bring back the electric chair as a mandatory method of execution due to the difficulty in obtaining lethal injection drugs. However, the electric chair has been associated with several botched executions, including that of Willie Francis in 1946 and Jesse Tafero in 1990, which have sparked significant controversy.
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It's a method of the past
The electric chair is a method of execution that has been used in the past, primarily in the United States, but also in other countries such as the Philippines. The first electric chair was built in New York in 1888, and the first execution using this method took place in 1890. The electric chair was seen as a more humane alternative to hanging, and it became the most prominent execution method until the early 1990s. However, it has since been largely replaced by other methods, such as lethal injection.
The process of execution by electric chair involves passing a high voltage of electricity through the body of the condemned person, typically by placing electrodes on the head and leg or back. The intention is to overwhelm the brain and heart, causing death. However, there have been cases where the electric chair has failed to kill instantly, leading to prolonged pain and suffering. For example, in 1946, the electric chair failed to kill Willie Francis, who reportedly screamed in pain before ultimately dying in the electric chair in 1947 after a legal battle.
In recent years, the electric chair has fallen out of favor as a method of execution. Nationally, it is considered a method of the past, with no other state having used it since 2013. Lethal injection has become the primary method of execution in most states, including Tennessee, which joined other states in adopting it as the preferred method over two decades ago. However, some inmates in Tennessee have chosen the electric chair over lethal injection, citing fears of feeling intense discomfort during the lethal injection process.
While the electric chair is no longer the primary method of execution, it is still authorized as a backup method in several states, including Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. These states allow inmates sentenced before a certain date or in specific circumstances to choose between lethal injection and the electric chair. However, the electric chair has not been used in these states in recent years, and it is unlikely to be used again unless lethal injection is found to be unconstitutional.
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Frequently asked questions
Death by electric chair, also known as electrocution, is a method of execution where a person is strapped to a chair and subjected to a high voltage of electricity, typically around 2000 volts, which overwhelms the brain and stops the heart.
The electric current is passed through electrodes placed on the head and leg, or sometimes the arms, of the condemned person. The high voltage and current cause the brain to cease functioning immediately, and death occurs when the heart stops.
It is intended to be relatively humane, with the right voltage and amperage overwhelming the heart and brain quickly. However, there are variables, and if the current does not pass through the heart immediately, it can result in a long and painful death.
The first electric chair was built in New York in 1888, and the first execution using this method was carried out in 1890 when William Kemmler was put to death.
While it is considered outdated, death by electric chair is still authorized in some states, including Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. However, it is rarely used, with lethal injection being the primary method of execution in modern times.
