The governor shall be chosen biennially in the month of November; and the votes for governor shall be received, sorted, counted, certified and returned, in the same manner as the votes for senators; and the secretary shall lay the same before the senate and house of representatives, on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January to be by them examined, and in case of an election by a plurality of votes through the state, the choice shall be by them declared and published. And the qualifications of electors of the governor shall be the same as those for senators; and if no person shall have a plurality of votes, the senate and house of representatives shall, by joint ballot elect one of the two persons, having the highest number of votes, who shall be declared governor. And no person shall be eligible to this office, unless at the time of his election, he shall have been an inhabitant of this state for 7 years next preceding, and unless he shall be of the age of 30 years.

June 2, 1784

Amended 1792 deleting specifics of handling votes at town meeting.

Amended 1852 removing property qualification for holding office.

Amended 1877 three times: biennial elections replacing annual; elections in November instead of March; deleting provision that office holders be of protestant religion.

Amended 1889 changing June to January for the secretary of state to lay the votes before the house and senate.

Amended 19l2 requiring a plurality instead of majority for election of governor.

Amended 1982 changing first Wednesday of January to Wednesday after the first Tuesday.