What happens between now and inauguration?

President-elect Trump was declared winner of the 2024 election Wednesday, unlocking a path to the White House that involves a series of key events required to ratify the results.

This process is outlined in the Constitution. The steps ensure an election is fairly processed and ballot counts are properly documented. Officials craft paperwork that the records the presidential ballot totals from Election Day, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

Certificate of Ascertainment

Each state must first submit its Certificate of Ascertainment, listing the names of all the individuals on the slates for each candidate, in addition to the number of votes each person received. It also shows which people were appointed as the state's electors, according to the National Archives.

These documents must be sent to the Archivist of the United States by Dec. 11. This is the country’s official election record.

Certificate of the Vote

Electors will meet in their respective states on Dec. 17.

Each person casts a vote for president and vice president on separate ballots. Electors record their votes on six Certificates of Vote, which are paired with the six remaining Certificates of Ascertainment according to the National Archives.

Next, they sign and seal six copies of both the Certificate of Vote alongside the Certificate of Ascertainment. The documents are sent to Congress, where the votes are counted, and to the National Archives and Record Administration, as part of the official records of the presidential election.

Every state will also receive a copy for their permanent records in addition to three backup sets.

New Congress members instated

The new Congress will convene at noon Jan. 3, as set forth in the Constitution, and lawmakers will be sworn in. Vice President Harris will preside over the meeting as Senate members take their Oath of Office, as will the Speaker for House members.

Congress counts electoral votes

Congress will count electoral votes on Jan. 6. Harris will be the first sitting vice president to oversee the counting of her own electoral loss since Al Gore in 2002.

The states' election results will be brought into Congress in two wooden boxes.

Harris will hand sealed certificates to tellers, who will tally the votes.

This is the first time a new process outlined under the Electoral Count Reform Act will be in place. The law confirms the vice president has no ability to change the election outcome on Jan. 6, and it helps to resolve legal challenges swiftly according to The Associated Press.

The law was passed after the Capitol attacks on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters tried to stop the certification of the election.