When a person votes for a Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate in the popular election, they’re actually voting for the slate of electors representing their choice for President and Vice President. Those electors meet in their state and vote for President and Vice President. They record their votes on Certificates of Vote like this one.
They send their state’s electoral votes to the President of the United States Senate. Then Congress counts the electoral votes in a joint session of Congress and announces the winner.
This Certificate of Vote shows that George Washington received the most votes (six) from New Jersey, and John Jay received the second-most (five). Washington was elected President and John Adams Vice President in the 1789 election. Washington was the only man ever elected President with a unanimous vote.
