Several states are in the process of recounting, reviewing and/or verifying their vote counts. Contested states have until December 8 to finalize their results.

Legal challenges may keep some states from officially certifying their election results.

State voting results can project the president-elect, but the legal determination is set when the Electoral College cast their votes for their respective state*.

KEY DATES

December 8, 2020: Deadline for certified results in contested states.

December 14, 2020: State electors cast their final votes for President of the United States of America.

December 23, 2020: Deadline for certified of electoral votes to be received by the president of the U.S. Senate.

January 3, 2021**:Swearing in of 117th United States Congress.

January 6, 2021:Joint sessions of Congress formally count Electoral College votes and declare election results.

January 20, 2021:Presidential and vice-presidential inauguration.

January 21, 2021: The President of the United States and his administration begins.

*In the event of a tie in Electoral College votes or if one or more states cannot certify their results to reach a total of 270 or more votes for one candidate, the House of Representatives is tasked with choosing the president and the Senate is tasked with choosing the vice-president.

**Dates that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are subject to change per legislative appointment.