Next steps: How a new president is made
There are many more steps between now and January before Mr. Biden officially becomes president. Here are the key ones:
Any day now, possibly: The formal transfer of power begins with an independent agency, the General Services Administration, which manages federal property and procurement. It has to certify presidents-elect before they and their staff can access federal funds for the transition, but the GSA’s current leader, Emily Murphy – a Trump appointee – has not yet done this.
Dec. 8: This is the states' deadline to finish recounts and settle any disputes about their Electoral College slates, which have to be listed on official documents called certificates of ascertainment. This deadline is also important for the Trump legal team, which is challenging results and counting methods in some states.
Dec. 14: Electors vote in their respective states. Most electors will have signed pledges to support whoever won their states' popular votes: Since, for instance, a majority of Californians voted for Mr. Biden, he gets all 55 of their Electoral College votes. The only exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which choose electors based on a mix of popular vote and congressional district results: Nebraska is giving four votes to Mr. Trump and one to Mr. Biden, and Maine three to Mr. Biden and one to Mr. Trump. Theoretically, electors can break their pledges, in which case their votes may be nullified or they can be fined. But “faithless electors” such as these have never changed an election’s outcome, and there would need to be dozens of them to do so this time.
Jan. 5: Runoff elections decide the outcome of two Senate races in Georgia that are too close to call. If the Republicans win either Georgia seat, as well as unconcluded races in Alaska and North Carolina they’re expected to take, the GOP will keep control of the Senate and could obstruct Mr. Biden’s cabinet appointments and legislative agenda. But if the Democrats win both Georgia seats, Mr. Biden will have both chambers' support in undoing Mr. Trump’s work.
Jan. 6: The newly elected House of Representatives and Senate convene to count the electoral votes and sort out any objections to the outcome. Contested votes can only be excluded by the consent of both chambers, which is unlikely since the Democrats retain control the House. When all objections are settled, the Senate president – who, at this point, will still be Vice-President Mike Pence – announces the results.
Jan. 20: The president-elect and his running mate are sworn in and assume their jobs. This inauguration will take more advance planning than most because of COVID-19, and the usual crowds of inaugurations past may be less pronounced.