(AP) – With both Democrats and Republicans bracing for possible legal battles over the vote count, the post-election process is coming under greater scrutiny.

The Associated Press reports that there are more than two months of procedural steps required by the US Constitution and federal law. Here are the key dates and details:

• November 5: Election Day is the last day to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Technically, voters in all 50 states are not voting for a president, but for a list of electors who have pledged to support one of the presidential candidates in a subsequent vote. Voters can cast their ballots on or before November 5, but voting stops when the polls close. The states can then count the votes.
• End of November/beginning of December: Each state has its own deadline to certify election results. However, if voting disputes, litigation or other factors delay the count, missing the deadline does not incur a penalty in the presidential race.
• 11 Dec: This is known as the “safe port” deadline and is when states must certify their presidential electors. The date comes six days before the Electoral College is scheduled to meet.
• Dec 17: This is the date when electors must meet in their states and vote for president. Failure to meet this deadline could mean that a state’s electors are not counted in the presidential tally.
• 25 Dec: States should transmit their votes to Congress by this date.
• January 3: The new Congress is sworn in.
• January 6: Congress counts electoral votes. This process usually officially certifies a winner.

If no candidate wins a majority of the electors, the House votes to determine who becomes president. This procedure is provided for in the 12th Amendment to the US Constitution. Each state’s delegation gets one vote, and the winner of 26 state delegations becomes president. The Senate votes for the vice president.

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