Key Days Between Election Day And Inauguration Day

By The Associated Press

Key dates in formalizing the presidential election results:

-Nov. 4: Voters in the general election choose a group of electors from each state to serve in the Electoral College, which will elect the president and vice president.

When Americans vote, they are technically picking representatives pledged to the candidates and aren’t voting directly for the contenders themselves.

-Dec. 9: Deadline for states to resolve issues regarding election recounts, controversies or contests.

-Dec. 15: Electors meet in their states to pick the president and vice president. They are not required by federal law to follow the will of the popular vote in their state.

-Dec. 24: Deadline for designated officials, such as the president of the Senate and others, to have the electoral votes in hand, though states do not face any legal penalty if they don’t comply.

-Jan. 6: Congress meets to count the electoral votes. The president and vice president must win a majority of electoral votes, or 270, to be elected. If there is no majority, the House selects the president, and the Senate selects the vice president.

-Jan. 20: The president-elect is sworn into office.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)