After Election Day, the road to the inauguration of a new president of the United States is full of crucial milestones. During this time, transition teams work tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition of power, especially if the opposing party’s candidate for the White House emerges victorious. Below are the key moments in this process.
On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, this year on December 17, Electoral College electors gather in their state capitals to vote for president and vice president. Although the Constitution allows members of the college to cast their votes for anyone, 32 states and the District of Columbia have laws against faithless electors, or those who fail to honor their promises to vote. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that states can penalize or replace these faithless electors. The voting results are then sealed in certificates that must be sent to the President of the Senate and the State Archives by the fourth Wednesday in December. Then, by January 3, these certificates are transferred to Congress.
On January 6, a joint session of Congress is held to count and certify the electoral votes. The vice president in office, as president of the Senate, conducts the count by voice. Members of Congress have the opportunity to object to one or more counts of the votes, provided that the objection is in writing and signed by at least one representative from each chamber. If an objection is raised, both houses meet to discuss and vote on it. Both houses must approve the objection for the electoral votes to be invalidated.
January 20 marks the official inauguration day. On this date, the president and vice president are sworn in at the Capitol in a solemn ceremony. The event draws tens of thousands of people along the National Mall, a testament to a key democratic tradition. In closing, as we prepare for the arrival of a new president, it is important to recognize the importance of the pre-inaugural moments. These moments not only mark the end of an election but also represent an opportunity to reflect on the health of American democracy and the active civic participation of citizens.
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