The results of the 2024 presidential race show Donald Trump winning. What’s next?

Former President Donald Trump I’ll go back to the White House after winning in Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee and several Southern Republican strongholds, according to USA TODAY.

Not only that Trump wins 277 electoral votesWith more than the 270 votes needed to win the presidential election, he also won the popular vote with 71,260,693 votes as of 7 a.m. Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris carried a group of states in the Northeast, including New York, Vermont and Massachusetts, but lost with 224 electoral votes and a total of 66,315,077 votes.

The victory is one of the most stunning political comebacks in history, coming four years after Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

So what’s happening now? Here’s a timeline of events after Election Day on November 5th.

What happens after Election Day?

Three things happen in December after Election Day. First, states issue certifications, then voters cast ballots in their states, and finally, the electoral votes arrive.

Here’s what it all means:

December 11: On December 11, each state’s leaders issue a certificate of certification, an official document identifying the state’s appointed electors. Once each state’s election results are certified, state leaders send certificates to the Archivist of the United States.

December 17: The electors then meet in their states and vote for president and vice president on separate ballots. According to Bipartisan Policy CenterVoters sign several certificates confirming their votes, sign and endorse those certificates, and send them to officials in Washington, D.C., and their state.

December 25: The electoral votes must be received by the President of the Senate and the Archivist no later than the fourth Wednesday in December. If votes are not received, the Senate President or Archivist will ask the Chief Election Officer of the state(s) to send the certificate that was retained in their state.

When does Congress count electoral votes?

By January 3, the Archivist will send certificate sets to Congress as requested. According to National Archives and Records AdministrationThis usually occurs when the Senate does not receive the certificates on time.

Three days later, on January 6, the new Congress will convene and count the electoral votes. The Vice President presides over the counting of votes and announces the results of the Electoral College vote. The President of the Senate then announces who has been elected President and Vice President of the United States.

When is Inauguration Day?

Inauguration Day is held on January 20 every four years. In 2025, Inauguration Day falls on a Monday.

During the ceremony, the President-elect and Vice President-elect take the oath of office to become President and Vice President of the United States, respectively. The inauguration ceremony takes place at the US Capitol building in Washington, DC.

Contributing: Joyce Orlando

Diana Leyva covers breaking news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @_leyvadiana.