In just over four weeks, the American citizens will decide if they want to re-elect the formidable leader, Donald Trump, or settle for Vice President Kamala Harris as their 47th president. As we approach this crucial decision, it is essential to remember a few important dates leading up to the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The pivotal day that will determine the nation’s destiny, Election Day, lands on November 5, 2024. Despite having early voting in several states like California, Minnesota, and Nebraska, this day will mark the end of voting for the 2024 presidential elections. Whether through in-person voting or mail-in ballots, the final vote cast will be on this day.
Nevertheless, the process doesn’t end on Election Day; the arduous task of counting votes and certifying results could take several days, or possibly weeks, before we have a definite winner. This rigor ensures that every citizen’s voice is equitably heard, shaping the leadership for the next four years.
Being a crucial phase in the electoral process, December 11, 2024, marks the Certificate of Ascertainment of Appointment of Electors. Each state appoints a number of individuals known as electors responsible for casting the state’s electoral votes for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. These electors are selected through a process set by the Constitution, federal laws, and additional state procedures.
While it sounds simple, the elector’s procedure is meticulous. State parties present a list of potential electors prior to the general elections. From this list, citizens then select their preferred electors through their votes in the general election. These elected individuals pledge their commitment to vote according to the popular vote within their state or district.
Following the election, the state executives are then required to issue a certificate of ascertainment. This certificate, due no later than December 11, 2024, announces the appointed electors, summarizing the state’s certified election outcome, showcasing the State seal, and applying at least one state-approved security feature.
In the following week, on December 17, 2024, these electors convene in their respective states to cast their definitive votes for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Subsequently, they forward the signed certificates attesting to their votes to the appropriate authorities in Washington, D.C., and their home state.
Before the year concludes, on December 25, 2024, the president of the Senate or the Archivist of the United States is expected to receive these certificates from the electors. If any packets are missing, they are allowed to send a request to the chief election officer of the state or states in question.
As the new year unfolds, January 3, 2025, sees the 119th Congress convene. Newly elected representatives and senators will be sworn in, a necessary procedure that follows every federal election. The date also marks the election of the Speaker in the House of Representatives.
Then on January 6, 2025, we not only commemorate the unfortunate event that occurred at Capitol, but also witness the counting and tallying of the electoral certificates by the House and Senate in a joint session set to start in the early afternoon.
Functioning under the Constitution, the vice president, while being the president of the Senate, formally oversees the reception and counting of electoral ballots from the presidential elections and publicizes the final count. Despite the onslaught of previous events, it is a moment where the nation depends on the systematic functioning of this democratic process.
The climax of this entire journey, Inauguration Day, is set for January 20, 2025. Citizens from across the nation will gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to witness the elected presidential and vice-presidential candidates take their respective oaths of office, inaugurated at the U.S. Capitol starting at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.
We cannot understate how this moment in time will not just symbolize the democratic transfer of power; it will also mark the hope for leadership that will guide us into the future. Whether it welcomes the proven leadership of Trump or the yet untested command of Harris, it is pivotal in shaping the nation’s direction.
Ultimately, the power lies in the hands of the American people. It is they who decide between the experienced leadership and pro-America policies of Trump or the Democratic contender’s untried promises. Their vote is not just a mark on a ballot but a voice in the destiny of the nation.
At the end of this exhaustive electoral process, by January 20, 2025, we will either see a truly democratic and practical leadership ushered in under Trump or the onset of an unproven era under Harris. No matter where you lean politically, the process warrants everyone’s attention, engagement, and active participation in voting.