What happens after Election Day? Key dates to know
In just over a month, U.S. voters will decide whether Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump will become the nation’s 47th president.
Here’s a rundown of some important dates between now and the presidential inauguration, Jan. 20, 2025.
Nov. 5, 2024: Election Day
Nov. 5, 2024, is Election Day! While many states, including California, Minnesota and Nebraska, have some form of early voting, this is the last day to cast votes in the 2024 presidential election, including in-person and mail-in ballots. Depending on the state, mail-in ballots must either be postmarked by Election Day or received on Election Day.But counting the votes and certifying the results can take days, or even weeks.
Dec. 11, 2024: Certificate of Ascertainment of Appointment of Electors
Every state appoints a certain number of individuals, called electors, who will cast the state’s electoral votes for president and vice president. State parties choose a slate of potential electors before the general election, following general requirements set by the Constitution and federal, as well as any additional procedures set by the respective state. Then, voters select electors by voting in the general election. Electors pledge to vote according to the statewide or district popular vote.
The executive of each state must issue a certificate of ascertainment naming and appointing these individuals no later than Dec. 11, 2024. The certificates include the names of the electors, the state’s certified election results, the seal of the State, and at least one security feature set by the state.
Dec. 17, 2024: Meeting and vote of electors
On the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December — this year, Dec. 17 — the appointed electors must meet in their respective states to cast their votes for president and vice president.
They then transmit signed and endorsed certificates attesting to their votes to officials in Washington, D.C., and their state.
Dec. 25, 2024: Electoral votes received
The president of the Senate or the Archivist of the United States should receive the certificates from the electors on the fourth Wednesday in December: this year, Dec. 25.
If they do not receive the certificates by this date, they will request them from the chief election officer of the state or states.
Jan. 3, 2025: 119th Congress convenes
On Jan. 3, representatives-elect and senators-elect will be sworn into the new Congress. This process happens every two years on this date following federal elections.
In the House of Representatives, this is also the day that the Speaker will be elected.
Jan. 6, 2025: Congress Counts Electoral Votes
Jan. 6, 2025, is not just the four-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol.
It is the day when the House and Senate will count and tally the electoral certificates in a joint session, starting in the early afternoon. The U.S. Constitution names the vice president as the president of the Senate and formally presides over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots cast in presidential elections and announces the result of the count.
Jan. 20, 2025: Inauguration Day
On Jan. 20, 2025, people will fill the National Mall in D.C. to watch the elected president and vice president be sworn in. They will take their respective oaths of office at the U.S. Capitol starting at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, and after they've been sworn in, the transfer of power from the former administration to the new administration is complete.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From Election Day to Inauguration Day: Key dates to know