Congress set January 7, 1789 as the date by which states
are required to choose electors for the country’s first-ever
presidential election. A month later, on February 4, George
Washington was elected president by state electors and
sworn into office on April 30, 1789.

As it did in 1789, the United States still uses the Electoral
College system, 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.