1789 : First U.S. presidential election
On this day in 1789, America's first presidential election is held.
Voters cast ballots to choose state electors; only white men who owned
property were allowed to vote. As expected, George Washington won the
election and was sworn into office on April 30, 1789.
As it did in 1789, the United States still uses the Electoral College
system, established by the U.S. Constitution, which today gives all
American citizens over the age of 18 the right to vote for electors,
who in turn vote for the president. The president and vice president
are the only elected federal officials chosen by the Electoral College
instead of by direct popular vote.
Today political parties usually nominate their slate of electors at
their state conventions or by a vote of the party's central state
committee, with party loyalists often being picked for the job.
Members of the U.S. Congress, though, can't be electors. Each state is
allowed to choose as many electors as it has senators and
representatives in Congress. The District of Columbia has 3 electors.
During a presidential election year, on Election Day (the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in November), the electors from the
party that gets the most popular votes are elected in a
winner-take-all-system, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska,
which allocate electors proportionally. In order to win the
presidency, a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes out of
a possible 538.
On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December of a
presidential election year, each state's electors meet, usually in
their state capitol, and simultaneously cast their ballots nationwide.
This is largely ceremonial: Because electors nearly always vote with
their party, presidential elections are essentially decided on
Election Day. Although electors aren't constitutionally mandated to
vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state, it is demanded
by tradition and required by law in 26 states and the District of
Columbia (in some states, violating this rule is punishable by $1,000
fine). Historically, over 99 percent of all electors have cast their
ballots in line with the voters. On January 6, as a formality, the
electoral votes are counted before Congress and on January 20, the
commander in chief is sworn into office.
Critics of the Electoral College argue that the winner-take-all system
makes it possible for a candidate to be elected president even if he
gets fewer popular votes than his opponent. This happened in the
elections of 1876, 1888 and 2000. However, supporters contend that if
the Electoral College were done away with, heavily populated states
such as California and Texas might decide every election and issues
important to voters in smaller states would be ignored.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1789 : First U.S. presidential election
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52317
1785 : Across the English Channel in a balloon
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4654
1979 : Pol Pot overthrown
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6769
1989 : Emperor Hirohito dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4655
1999 : Clinton impeachment trial begins
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4656
#########################################
On this day in 1789, America's first presidential election is held.
Voters cast ballots to choose state electors; only white men who owned
property were allowed to vote. As expected, George Washington won the
election and was sworn into office on April 30, 1789.
As it did in 1789, the United States still uses the Electoral College
system, established by the U.S. Constitution, which today gives all
American citizens over the age of 18 the right to vote for electors,
who in turn vote for the president. The president and vice president
are the only elected federal officials chosen by the Electoral College
instead of by direct popular vote.
Today political parties usually nominate their slate of electors at
their state conventions or by a vote of the party's central state
committee, with party loyalists often being picked for the job.
Members of the U.S. Congress, though, can't be electors. Each state is
allowed to choose as many electors as it has senators and
representatives in Congress. The District of Columbia has 3 electors.
During a presidential election year, on Election Day (the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in November), the electors from the
party that gets the most popular votes are elected in a
winner-take-all-system, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska,
which allocate electors proportionally. In order to win the
presidency, a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes out of
a possible 538.
On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December of a
presidential election year, each state's electors meet, usually in
their state capitol, and simultaneously cast their ballots nationwide.
This is largely ceremonial: Because electors nearly always vote with
their party, presidential elections are essentially decided on
Election Day. Although electors aren't constitutionally mandated to
vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state, it is demanded
by tradition and required by law in 26 states and the District of
Columbia (in some states, violating this rule is punishable by $1,000
fine). Historically, over 99 percent of all electors have cast their
ballots in line with the voters. On January 6, as a formality, the
electoral votes are counted before Congress and on January 20, the
commander in chief is sworn into office.
Critics of the Electoral College argue that the winner-take-all system
makes it possible for a candidate to be elected president even if he
gets fewer popular votes than his opponent. This happened in the
elections of 1876, 1888 and 2000. However, supporters contend that if
the Electoral College were done away with, heavily populated states
such as California and Texas might decide every election and issues
important to voters in smaller states would be ignored.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1789 : First U.S. presidential election
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52317
1785 : Across the English Channel in a balloon
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4654
1979 : Pol Pot overthrown
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6769
1989 : Emperor Hirohito dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4655
1999 : Clinton impeachment trial begins
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4656
#########################################
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