U.S. presidential election, 1789
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The U.S. presidential election of 1789 was the first presidential election in the United States of America.
New York failed to appoint its allotment of eight electors, and subsequently cast no electoral votes. North Carolina and Rhode Island also did not cast votes, as they had not yet ratified the United States Constitution.
For all intents and purposes, George Washington ran unopposed for election as President. Under the system in place then and through the election of 1800, each voting elector cast two votes - the recipient of the greatest number of votes was elected President, providing they equalled or exceeded half the total number of electors, the second greatest number Vice President which had no qualification of support.
The recipient of 34 electoral votes, John Adams of Massachusetts, finished second in voting and as such was elected Vice President of the United States.
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General election
Results
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Breakdown by ticket
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Electoral college selection
| Method of choosing Electors | State(s) |
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| each Elector appointed by state legislature | Connecticut Georgia New Jersey New York (a) South Carolina |
| each Elector chosen by voters statewide | Maryland Pennsylvania |
| each Elector chosen by voters statewide; however, each voter only allowed to pick one candidate and top three vote-getters become Electors | Delaware |
| Massachusetts |
| each Elector chosen by voters statewide; however, if no candidate wins majority, state legislature appoints Elector from top two candidates | New Hampshire |
| state is divided into electoral districts, with one Elector chosen per district by the voters of that district | Virginia (b) |
(a) New York's legislature deadlocked, so no Electors were chosen
(b) One electoral district failed to chose an Elector.
See also
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