Far from the boring rematch that has caused many Americans to shy away from politics, the 2024 presidential election has had violent twists and scary turns.
No one expected President Joe Biden’s campaign to implode in less than a month, following the shock of his debate performance. CNN in late June until his decision to drop out of the race in late July. Democrats went from literally going crazy over his candidacy to new excitement about Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.
No one expected an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, an event that unified Republicans around him and caused many in his party to show a kind of divine reverence for his near-death experience.
So we don’t know specifically what will happen in the run-up to Election Day on November 5, or what might happen afterward, when the nation’s unique Electoral College process begins. But we do have some idea of what to expect:
August: Harris’ nomination, selection of a vice president, and a convention in Chicago.
While the Democratic Party almost immediately rallied behind Harris as its running mate, it has yet to officially select her. Delegates will do so quickly, between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7, ahead of the convention, a back-up maneuver to avoid any changes to the ballot box.
Harris will also need to choose a running mate. Expect that to happen soon, according to Jeff Zeleny, from CNN and not just before the convention, as often happens.
In late August, Democrats will gather in Chicago for their convention. Expect the most incredible reception for Biden. Democrats have gone from worrying about his electoral prospects to considering him a hero.
Earlier this month, Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, turns 40. He will be the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history and the first millennial to hold elected office if the Republican ticket prevails. With Biden out of the race, Vance is in contention with the oldest major party candidate in history, along with Trump, a baby boomer.
September: Debates, anyone? Trump’s verdict?
Biden and Trump agreed to a second debate, hosted by ABC News, on September 10. But with Biden out of the race, Trump suggested he might not participate in an ABC-sponsored debate. Instead, the Trump campaign suggested a debate on Fox News, and that network suggested September 17.
Both sides seem eager to debate, so expect details to emerge.
The first early voting will also take place in September. North Carolina is the first state to send out mail-in ballots, on September 6, but other states will follow suit in the following weeks.
With many Americans back at school and work, they may start paying more attention to the September election. There will also be some defining moments in the cultural zeitgeist, like when “Saturday Night Live” premieres later this month with Maya Rudolph returning as Harris — and we find out who will play Vance.
Trump also faces sentencing for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records prior to the 2016 election. The Sept. 18 date could slip as the court reacts to new immunity granted to presidents by the Supreme Court.
October: the vote is well underway.
Election Day isn’t until November 5, but most states allow some form of early voting, whether by mail or in person, and that process will kick into gear in October.
A majority of Americans, nearly 70%, voted early or by mail in 2020, according to census figures, though that number was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Campaigns will focus on getting votes in the few key states they believe are up for grabs. In 2020, Biden won five states that Trump won in 2016. Those states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — could be a focus again in 2024 when Harris, who turns 60 in October, faces Trump.
November : Election Day and beyond.
U.S. law requires federal elections to take place on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year, that’s November 5.
People who don’t vote early will go to their local polling place. Polls will close at different times across the country. Because of the increase in mail-in voting, if key states are close, as they were in 2020, we likely won’t know the winner on Election Day.
Regardless, expect lawsuits in certain states and the potential for recounts in others. Election Day is far from the end of the election.
At the end of November, Biden turns 82.
December: Electoral votes are cast
After the election issues are resolved, the states confirm, or count, their state results. Electors meet in their respective state capitols to cast electoral votes for the state’s winner.
Nebraska and Maine also allocate some electoral votes by congressional district, and these could be crucial in a close race.
January : Someone will take the solemn oath
The new Congress takes office on January 3. It is this new Congress that, in the unlikely event of a tie in the Electoral College, would decide the election. Each state would have one vote for president in the House of Representatives.
In any case, lawmakers will meet on January 6, as everyone will remember from 2020, to count the electoral votes. Kamala Harris will preside over the session. She could be the fifth vice president in history to oversee her own Electoral College victory, or the fourth in history to oversee her own Electoral College defeat.
On January 20, 2025, the next president takes office.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
