Article II of the U.S. constitution spells out the manner in which presidents are elected. Each state is allowed to determine how it will select its electors, the number of whom shall be no greater than the number of representatives and senators that state is entitled to. Each elector was to cast two votes. The man with the most votes became President, and the first runner-up became Vice President.

The Constitution did not require states to allow their citizens to vote for the electors, nor does the Constitution require electors to vote for the candidate they've pledged to vote for. The Electoral College was designed to prevent "mob rule."

The Presidency in the elections of 1788 and 1792 was not contested, and George Washington was the unanimous choice of the electors in both elections. The Vice Presidency was, however, contested. John Adams, elected Vice President in both elections, was favored by Washington over rival George Clinton, because of Clinton's anti-Federalist views.

In 1788, North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution, and did not vote. New York failed to cast its electoral votes. Two votes from Maryland and two votes from Virginia were not cast.