76 Days of Political Tension: 5 Key Dates to Watch After the Election!

The transition period between Election Day and Inauguration Day spans 76 days, presenting significant challenges for political parties and the legal system, particularly with potential slow vote counts that could breed distrust in the electoral process. Each state has different deadlines for certifying election results, with key battleground states like Georgia and Michigan required to certify by late November, while electors will cast their official votes on December 17. Finally, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the counting of electoral certificates on January 6, 2025, with her role clarified to be strictly ministerial, preventing any rejection of electoral votes.

CONTENTS:

• Inauguration Day: January 20, 2025.
• Election transition: 76 challenging days.
• Election certification process detailed timelines.

76 Days of Political Tension: 5 Key Dates to Watch After the Election!

Inauguration Day: January 20, 2025

76 Days of Political Tension: 5 Key Dates to Watch Inauguration Day for the next president is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2025. This ceremony will take place at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and is organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The event will feature the swearing-in of the new president, the inaugural address, and a pass in review.

As we await the results of the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday, where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are in a competitive race, it’s important to note that there will be additional events surrounding the inauguration, such as the Inaugural Parade and the Inaugural Balls. Previous ceremonies have included performances by notable artists like Beyoncé, Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga, and Amanda Gorman.

Election transition: 76 challenging days

76 Days of Political Tension: 5 Key Dates to Watch The period from Election Day to Inauguration Day will span 76 challenging days as the United States transitions from President Biden to his successor, adding pressure on political parties, the legal system, and societal norms. With the upcoming election remaining highly contested, the end of campaigning is just the beginning of a new phase, where patience will be crucial due to potentially slow vote counts.

This sluggishness could breed distrust in the electoral process, leading to lawsuits, civil unrest, and political gridlock. As Axios’ Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen noted, it’s essential to manage emotional reactions to social media outbursts, as misinformation will likely be rampant. VandeHei also highlighted the consistent uncertainty surrounding swing states, indicating that the nation has remained evenly divided for years.

Key dates to monitor during this transition include:

– December 11: Governors must certify presidential election results and submit their electors. New procedures have been established to handle disputes due to past election challenges.

– December 17: Electors will cast their official votes for president and vice president in state capitols. Authorities in swing states are bracing for potential unrest during these sessions.

– January 6, 2025: The newly sworn-in Congress will count Electoral College ballots under updated regulations to prevent future insurrections. While objections can still be raised, the process has been made more stringent, with the vice president’s role clearly defined as merely announcing the results.

Increased security measures are anticipated at the Capitol for the January 6 count, which has been designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. Overall, the coming months promise further challenges and tests for the nation’s political landscape.

Election certification process detailed timelines

76 Days of Political Tension: 5 Key Dates to Watch After the votes are tallied, state election officials are responsible for certifying the results. Each state has different deadlines for this process, starting with Delaware, which must certify by November 7. Other key battleground states follow: Georgia by November 23, Michigan by November 25, and both North Carolina and Nevada by November 26. Wisconsin’s deadline is December 1, while Arizona’s is December 2. Pennsylvania and Rhode Island do not have specified certification deadlines.

Most states follow a winner-take-all system, meaning that the candidate with the most popular votes in a state gets all of that state’s electoral votes. A candidate must secure 270 of the 538 total electoral votes to win the presidency. However, before this happens, governors need to formally appoint the electors for the winning candidate.

If no clear winner is projected by November 11, federal agencies are required to begin separate briefings for the campaigns of both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. This new rule was implemented following the chaotic transition period after the 2020 election, where Biden’s team was denied access to essential briefings. To improve future transitions, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act in 2022, allowing both campaigns to initiate transition plans if no candidate concedes within five days of Election Day.

As the election process unfolds, Trump may also face sentencing for his conviction on multiple counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made in 2016. Although he faces a possible prison sentence of up to four years, legal experts suggest he might receive a lighter sentence or probation, given his lack of prior convictions. Importantly, a convicted felon can still serve as President, but Trump would be unable to pardon his state-level convictions.

Once the states have certified their results, governors sign “certificates of ascertainment,” officially designating electors for the winning candidate. These certificates are due by December 11. The electors, named in these certificates, will then cast their votes for President and Vice President on December 17, 2024, the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December.

The process for confirming presidential election results is outdated, as many procedures were established when documents were sent by horseback. The electoral votes must arrive in Washington, D.C., by the fourth Wednesday in December—this year, December 25. If the votes have not arrived by then, the president of the Senate or the Archivist can request an extra copy from the state’s election officer.

On January 3, the newly elected Congress convenes at noon. If electoral certificates are still missing at that time, copies can be requested from the Archivist. The first order of business for the House will be to elect a Speaker. If Republicans maintain control, Mike Johnson is likely to keep the position; if Democrats gain control, they would likely support Hakeem Jeffries.

On January 6, 2025, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the final step of the Electoral College process during a joint session of Congress at 1 PM, where the electoral certificates will be counted and a winner declared. Following the events of January 6, 2021, Congress clarified that the Vice President’s role is strictly ministerial and does not allow for the rejection of electoral votes.