New Jersey's Certification of Vote for President and Vice President
2/4/1789
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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.
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.
Transcript
We the Electors on behalf of the State of New Jersey, appointed for the purpose of choosing a President and Vice President of the United States of America, pursuant to the Constitution of the United States and an Act of the Legislature of the said State, entitled, "An "Act for carrying into effect on the part of the State of New Jersey the Constitution of the United States" "assented to ratified and confirmed by this State on the eighteenth day of December in the year of" "our Lord on thousand seven hundred and eighty seven" _____ Do hereby certify that having proceeded to vote by ballot for two persons to hold the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America, the following is a true list of all the persons voted for and of the number of votes for each __________Viz. _____________________ George Washington Esqr._____Six Votes
__________ John Jay Esqr. ______________Five Votes
__________ John Adams Esqr. ___________One Vote
In Testimony whereof we have hereto subscribed our names and annexed our several
Commissions under the great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this fourth day of February in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the thirteenth.
David Brearley [signature]
J Kinsey [signature]
John Neilson [signature]
David Moore [signature]
John Rutherfurd [signature]
M. Ogden [signature]
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 306227
Full Citation: Certification of votes for President and Vice President by electors of the state of New Jersey; 2/4/1789; Credentials, 1789 - 1998; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/certificate-vote-nj, May 13, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
