This Day in History: , The First US Presidential Election.
January 7, 1789.
George Washington won
the election and was sworn
into office on April 30, 1789.
Washington was
elected through the first
demonstration of the U.S.
electoral college system.
Established by the U.S. Constitution,
today the system gives all American
citizens over the age of 18
the right to vote for electors.
Voters cast their ballots to choose state
electors who, in turn, cast their vote for
the president and vice president.
In 1789, only white men
who owned property were
allowed to vote for the electors.
All 69 of the
electors voted unanimously
for Washington that year