<P> In the absence of political parties, there was no formal nomination process . The framers of the Constitution had presumed that Washington would be the first president, and there was no opposition to him since George Washington was widely seen as "essential to the successful operation of the new government ." The nation was undivided, regardless of national beliefs or affiliations, in its decision of Washington as president, so it was of little curiosity to the nation that he won unanimously during the 1788--89 election . Alexander Hamilton, a devoted advocate of George Washington, stated to Washington that "...the point of light in which you stand home and abroad will make an infinite difference in the respectability in which the government will begin its operations in the alternative of your being or not being the head of state ." Alexander Hamilton's letter to Washington is an attempt to persuade him to leave retirement on his farm in Mount Vernon, Virginia to run for the presidency, exemplifying the unanimous nature of George Washington's position as a candidate in the first election . </P> <P> Less certain was the choice for the vice presidency, which contained no definite job description in the constitution . Although, the job title that came with being vice-president was as the head of the senate, unrelated to the executive branch . However, the Constitution did stipulate the position would be awarded to the runner - up in the presidential election . Because Washington was from Virginia, many assumed that a vice president would be chosen from one of the northern states to ease sectional tensions . In an August 1788 letter, U.S. Minister to France Thomas Jefferson wrote that he considered John Adams and John Hancock, both prominent citizens from Massachusetts, to be the top contenders . Jefferson suggested John Jay, James Madison, and John Rutledge as other possible candidates . </P> <P> Voter turnout was particularly low in the first election . Experts estimate that only 1.8 - 6% of the population participated . This was not due to a general lack of interest in the election, but rather a general lack of voting status . There were many restrictions put on potential voters, reducing the pool of would - be voters to a mere fraction of the population . The eligible voting population was primarily made up of white, male landowners, most of whom were educated . Of the people who could potentially vote, few knew anything of running candidates due to the inability to communicate to masses of people during the 18th century, generally making informed voting nearly impossible . Those who were of a different religion or without property were considered unfit to vote due to the idea that they could be easily swayed for one candidate or another, or had the possibility of creating detrimental factions in opposition to the government . The average person was considered uneducated, which included women, slaves, non citizens, indentured servants, and individuals younger than the age of 21 . The qualities of a voter that were considered essential for a voter fit the characteristics of a "gentleman," as property owners were considered to have a "stake in society," deeming them independent and morally adept enough to be considered responsible voters . Voting eligibility varied from colony to colony, such as in Virginia and Connecticut which required a man to acquire a larger amount of property in order to hold different positions in office . The most common form of determining eligibility was the "forty pound rule", a common English practice that requires of voters to own forty pounds worth of land or receive a 5 percent return on the owned land . These eligible voter restrictions were made more inclusive with the later passage of the 15th amendment that removed racial affiliation as an eligible voter characteristic, and with the 19th amendment in 1920, which allowed for the suffrage of women . </P> <P> No official laws were established barring immigrants who did not speak English from voting, but they were greatly discouraged from doing so by means of anti-immigrant rhetoric . The expectation was that any non-English speaking residents in the colonies were assumed to be ineligible due to property requirements . Regarding the 1788--1789 elections, eligible voting was determined by the type of Christianity that an individual affiliated with . Only Protestants, and in some instances certain denominations, could vote in certain colonies . For example, only congregationalists retained the right to vote in Massachusetts . Jews, Quakers, and especially Catholics could not vote legally in states such as Rhode Island and Virginia . However, this was not the case in every colony, as Pennsylvania allowed every citizen regardless of property to have the right to vote . Due to the sentiments of freedom and independence following the revolution, nominations became more localized and frequent, access to voting booths increased dramatically, and the first instances of the "Australian" (i.e., secret) ballot began to pop up within the United States . Although many people were more apt to participate in local elections, nearly 90 percent of white males were able to vote in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Hampshire . </P>

Who was allowed to vote in the first presidential election