First Ballots Cast

This Day in History: January 7, 1789

The United States presidential election of 1789 was the first presidential election in the United States of America. The election took place following the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788. In this election, George Washington was elected for the first of his two terms as President of the United States, and John Adams became the first Vice President of the United States.

George Washington
en.wikipedia.org

No lengthy election season. No primaries. No campaign rallies. No endless advertisements. No debates. No long lines on election day. No worry about who will win.  Essentially George Washington didn't even have an opponent!

With the recent adoption of the constitution, voters cast their ballots on this day, January 7, 1789 for state electors, thus the beginning of the Electoral College. It was of no surprise that George Washington received the most votes with John Adams coming in second. Washington was the Virginia landowner who had led the patriotic forces in the war against the British. He was sworn into office in New York on April 30, 1789.

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