US Presidential Elections 2020: A timeline of how a President takes power

Election Day is typically end of contentious fight for White House. But it could just be beginning. With both Democrats and Republicans preparing for possible legal fights over vote count, post-election process for seating winner is getting a closer look.

A comprehensive timeline of how things should occur

two-plus-months of often-igred procedural steps are laid out by U.S. Constitution and federal law and y’re far more complicated than simply handing over keys to White House to winner.

Below are key dates in process, and what happens each step of way.

v. 3: first step is Election Day. Voters in all 50 states technically are t voting for a president, but for a slate of electors who are pledged to support one of presidential candidates in a later vote. Voters can cast ir ballots on or before v. 3, but voting stops when polls close. States n can count votes.

Late vember/Early December: Each state has its own deadline to certify election. However, if ballot disputes, litigation or or factors delay count, blowing this deadline doesn’t invoke a penalty in presidential race. big deadlines are still to come.

Dec. 8: This is kwn as safe harbour deadline. That means that Congress can t challenge any electors named by this date in accordance with state law. Most states want ir electors named by this deadline, to ensure Congress cant disregard m.

Dec. 14: This is date when electors are required to meet in ir states and cast ir ballots for president. Missing this deadline could mean a state’s electors don’t count in presidential tally. Any electors seated between Dec. 8 and this date can still vote, but y could oretically be challenged by Congress. Also, by this date, goverr of each state must certify state’s presidential election and slate of electors.

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Dec. 23: states are supposed to transmit ir votes to Congress by this date.

Jan. 3: new Congress is sworn in.

Jan. 6: Congress counts electoral votes. Typically, this process formally certifies a winner.

But if candidate wins a majority of electors, House votes to determine who becomes president. This procedure is laid out in 12th Amendment to U.S. Constitution. Each state’s delegation gets one vote, and winner of 26 state delegations becomes president. Senate votes for vice president.

Or disputes could also break out. Congress can reject electors t correctly seated by Dec. 8 deadline. If states submit competing slates of electors — as happened in 1876 presidential election — Congress will have to determine which one to count. An 1887 law passed after that episode gives broad guidance on how to do that, but it’s never come up again, so one kws exactly what procedure might be.

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Jan. 20: By on on this day, Constitution says a new presidential term begins. If Congress has t yet certified a winner of presidential election, federal law designates an acting president based on which elected officials are in office. If re is president or vice president whose election has been certified by Congress, for example, Speaker of House becomes president. If re isn’t a speaker in office, President Pro Tempore of Senate becomes president.

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