Jefferson Davis (Provisional) Nonpartisan Jefferson Davis Nonpartisan The 1861 Confederate States presidential election of November 6, 1861, was the first and only presidential election held under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

Both Davis and Stephens' offices were abolished on May 5, 1865, when the Confederate government dissolved, however, and so were unable to finish their terms.

[1] Article II Section 1(1) reads: "The executive power shall be vested in a President of the Confederate States of America.

"[2] Article II Section 1(7) of the Confederate Constitution provides citizenship to people "born in the United States prior to the 20th of December, 1860" and also requires candidates for the President of the Confederacy to have resided "within the limits of the Confederate States" for 14 years.

[2] Article VII Section 1(2) includes instructions for electing permanent officials after the ratification of the Confederate Constitution: When five states shall have ratified this Constitution, in the manner before specified, the Congress under the Provisional Constitution, shall prescribe the time for holding the election of President and Vice President; and, for the meeting of the Electoral College; and, for counting the votes, and inaugurating the President.

[2]On May 21, 1861, the Congress of the Confederacy passed "An Act to put in operation the Government under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America".

The members of the House of Representatives so elected, and the Senators who may be elected by the several states according to the provisions of said Constitution, shall assemble at the seat of government of the Confederate States, on the eighteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two; ... and the President of the Senate shall, on the nineteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, open all the certificates; and the votes for President and Vice President shall then be counted, as directed by said Constitution.

The President of the Confederate States shall be inaugurated on the twenty-second day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.

The election effectively confirmed the decision that had been made by the Provisional Confederate Congress earlier in the year.