President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris at 2024 presidential racebut several key dates remain in the certification process before he is sworn in for his second term.
Although considered bureaucratic in the past, the certification process has come under increasing public scrutiny since the 2020 election, when Trump and his allies made false and unproven claims about the existence of a risk widely distributed. electoral fraud and challenged the results in court, unsuccessfully.
Election officials and experts repeatedly emphasize that U.S. elections are free and fair.
The disinformation campaign ultimately resulted in the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol which briefly delayed a joint session of Congress to certify the results of the 2020 election. Trump was indicted on four counts a case brought by special counsel Jack Smith arising from his post-election conduct.
In late 2022, in direct response to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act to tighten and clarify the rules of the electoral certification process.
Here are the key presidential election certification dates for battleground states, the Electoral College and Congress.
Battlefield State Certification Deadlines
Arizona
State deadline: November 25, 2024
County boards of supervisors have until Nov. 21 to officially count the votes in a process known as “deliberation.” Once completed, boards must send a copy to the secretary of state, who has until Nov. 25 to complete the statewide survey and issue the election certificates.
Georgia
State deadline: November 22, 2024
County election superintendents must certify the results by 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 12 and immediately send them to the secretary of state, who has until 5 p.m. on Nov. 22 to certify the votes cast and transmit them to the governor.
Michigan
State deadline: November 25, 2024
County canvassing boards must conduct voter canvassing by Nov. 19 and report results to the secretary of state within 24 hours. The Board of State Canvassers must then meet to complete its process and certify the result before November 25.
Nevada
State deadline: November 26, 2024
Boards of county commissioners must complete review of voting results and send results to the Secretary of State by November 15. A majority of Nevada Supreme Court justices must then meet with the secretary of state before Nov. 26 to review the vote. . Once the statewide poll is completed, the governor will issue the election certificates.
North Carolina
State deadline: December 2, 2024
County election boards are scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. ET on Nov. 15 to review the votes and send the summaries — forms showing votes cast for each candidate — to the State Board of Elections and the clerk of court. The State Board of Elections will next meet at 11 a.m. Nov. 26 to conduct a statewide investigation. Unless protested, the Council of State will issue the election certificates on December 2. If a protest is pending, the state board could delay certification for up to 10 days after its final decision on the matter.
Pennsylvania
Deadline: November 25, 2024
County election boards must submit unofficial results to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by 5 p.m. on November 12. If after five days no request for recount or reconsideration is filed, the county boards will certify the results to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Boards must certify by Nov. 25, even in the event of a recount or reinvestigation. The secretary will then conduct a statewide survey and present the results to the governor, for which there is no state deadline.
Wisconsin
State deadline: December 1, 2024
County clerks have until Nov. 19 to submit certified ballot returns to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The president of the commission must then carry out a public consultation and certify the results before December 1.
Deadline for certification of complete Electoral College election results
Safe Harbor Deadline: December 11, 2024
Under federal law, states have until Dec. 11 to certify election results, known as the safe harbor deadline.
Meeting: December 17, 2024
After this date, the results of the national elections will be finalized. On December 17, Electoral College electors will meet and vote for presidential candidates according to the will of their states. The results are then sent to Congress.
Deadline for certification of US congressional election results
Certification deadline: January 6, 2025
On January 6, 2025, four years after the storming of the Capitol, the House of Representatives and the Senate will meet to count and finalize the votes cast by the Electoral College. Lawmakers can object to a state’s electors, but the 2022 Electoral Count Act raised the threshold needed to one-fifth of the House and Senate to proceed with the objection.
Leo Rocha
