Important deadlines for the certification process of the 2024 election results

President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 presidential electionBut several important dates in the certification process still lie ahead before he takes the oath of office for his second term.

Although the certification process has historically been considered bureaucratic, it has come under increased public scrutiny since the 2020 election, when Trump and his allies made false, unsubstantiated claims about widespread claims Voter fraud and unsuccessfully challenged the results in court.

Election officials and experts continually emphasize that U.S. elections are free and fair.

The disinformation campaign ultimately culminated in this January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot This briefly delayed the certification of the 2020 election results in a joint session of Congress. Trump was indicted on four counts a case filed by special prosecutor Jack Smith This is due to his behavior after the election.

In direct response to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act in late 2022 sharpen and clarify the rules of the election certification process.

Here are the key presidential election certification dates for the battleground states, the Electoral College and Congress.

Deadlines for state certification of battlefields

Arizona

State deadline: November 25, 2024

County supervisors have until November 21 to officially count the votes in a process known as “canvass.” Once completed, the boards must send a copy to the secretary of state, who has until Nov. 25 to complete the statewide survey and issue ballots.

Georgia

State deadline: November 22, 2024

County election officials must certify the results by November 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET and immediately send them to the Secretary of State, who has until November 22 at 5:00 p.m. to certify the votes cast and send them to the governor to transmit.

Michigan

State deadline: November 25, 2024

The boards of county pollsters must complete an election survey by Nov. 19 and report the results to the Secretary of State within 24 hours. The Board of State Canvassers must then meet to complete the survey and certify the results by November 25th.

Nevada

State deadline: November 26, 2024

The boards of county commissioners must complete the collection of election results and send the results to the secretary of state by November 15. A majority of Nevada Supreme Court justices must then meet with the Secretary of State by November 26 to seek the vote. Once the statewide survey is completed, the governor issues ballot certificates.

North Carolina

State deadline: December 2, 2024

County boards of elections must meet at 11 a.m. ET on Nov. 15 to collect votes and send summaries — forms showing votes cast for each candidate — to the state board of elections and the clerk of courts. The state Board of Elections will then meet at 11 a.m. Nov. 26 to conduct a statewide voter poll. Unless a protest is lodged, the state executive board will issue election certificates on December 2nd. If a protest is pending, the state board may postpone certification until ten days after its final decision on the matter.

Pennsylvania

Deadline: November 25, 2024

County boards of elections must submit unofficial results to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by November 12 at 5:00 p.m. If no recount or recount requests are filed after five days, county boards certify the results with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Even in the event of a recount or recount, the committees must submit confirmation by November 25th. The secretary will then conduct a statewide survey and submit 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 returns of votes to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The commission chairman must then conduct a public survey by December 1st and confirm the results.

Deadline for full certification of Electoral College election results

Safe Harbor deadline: December 11, 2024

Under federal law, states have until December 11 to certify the election results, the so-called safe harbor deadline.

Meeting: December 17, 2024

After this date, the results of the state elections become final. On December 17, Electoral College voters will meet and cast their votes for presidential candidates according to the wishes of their states. The results are then sent to Congress.

Deadline for certifying election results by the US Congress

Certification deadline: January 6, 2025

On January 6, 2025, four years after the attack on the Capitol, the House and Senate will meet to count and finalize the votes cast by the Electoral College. Lawmakers can object to a state's electors, but the Electoral Count Act of 2022 increased the required threshold to one-fifth of the House and Senate to proceed with the objection.