After Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, the transition process to his second term is already underway, though several steps remain before his official inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025.
First, each state’s governor must confirm the electoral college’s voting results by December 11, when “electors” are formally appointed.
On December 17, these electors will gather in state capitals to cast their votes for President. Generally, this is only a formality, as electors are already “pledged” to the winning candidate. Yet, this day still marks the official meeting of the Electoral College and is a crucial step toward finalizing the presidential election.
By December 25, the electoral certificates from each state must be delivered to Washington, D.C., and processed by the Senate and the national archivist, finalizing the official results of the presidential election.
On January 3, the newly elected Congress will be sworn into office, kicking off the legislative term for both returning and new members.
The following week, on January 6, Congress will formally count the electoral votes in a joint session. This step is primarily ceremonial, though it serves as the final confirmation of President-elect Trump, barring any objections from congressional members.
On January 20, Trump will then be sworn in for his second term in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. While the outgoing President traditionally attends the inauguration, Trump’s absence at Joe Biden’s 2021 swearing-in raises questions about whether he will attend this time.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will allocate a small number of tickets for the inauguration to the public, which are “distributed through members of Congress.” These free tickets grant access to view the inauguration live at the U.S. Capitol as the President and Vice President are sworn into office on January 20. Congressional representatives will distribute tickets in the weeks before the event.
On November 7, Biden spoke about his intention to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Donald Trump. Biden also encouraged Democrats to remain “involved and committed” despite the election outcome, as previously reported by The Center Square.