The elections were uncontested, with Mikhail Gorbachev, then-General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union as the only candidate.

[5] On 7 February 1990, about a month prior to the election, Communist Party leaders voted on establishing a presidency.

[1] Gorbachev worked with the Congress to make sure that he secured a two-thirds majority; otherwise, he would have to campaign against other candidates in a general election.

Others were upset with the lack of real opposition against Gorbachev for a position that sought to increase democracy throughout the Soviet Union.

Sakhalin Island Deputy Ivan Zhdakayev expressed discontent over this: "Elections mean a popular vote, not this charade."