Declared the loser of the US presidential election on Saturday, November 7, Donald Trump is now a “lame duck” (“Blade duck”, in English), the expression which designates an elected official at the end of his mandate whose replacement has already been appointed. There then begins a transition period of two and a half months during which the United States will have both a sitting president (“Incumbent president”), Donald Trump therefore, and an elected president (“President-elect”), Joe Biden, awaiting his official inauguration on January 20.
Until then, the Democrat will have no power and he will have to prepare for his arrival at the White House with his transition team. At the same time, tradition dictates that the outgoing president only manages current affairs and that his administration discusses with his successor in order to ensure good handling of matters. But this year, the handover promises to be laborious: walled in his denial, Donald Trump clings to power and the hope of appeals filed in court.
Here are the key dates that must mark the post-election calendar, as planned by the US Congress.
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December 8: end of electoral disputes
States have a “security period” (“Safe harbor period”) five weeks after election day – until December 8 this year – to resolve any voting-related disputes. By this date, all the ballots must have been counted, and recounted if the American justice ordered it. Each state must then communicate its final result to the electoral college and present a “Certificate of ascertainment”, a document guaranteeing the validity of votes and counting operations.
This year, the “safety period” is likely to look like a final sprint. At issue: the very tight results in some states (such as Georgia or Pennsylvania); the actions brought by Donald Trump (the exact number of which is not yet known) against the “Frauds” of which he considers himself a victim, without proof; and the friction associated with the large number of postal votes, which take longer to count. This year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, nearly 100 million Americans voted in advance (on site or by mail). This is three times more than in 2016.
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December 14: vote of the grand voters
This election takes place by indirect universal suffrage: formally, it is the 538 electors who make up the electoral college who elect the president. To be elected president, a candidate must obtain the votes of at least 270 of them. According to still provisional results, Joe Biden has 279 votes, against 214 for the outgoing president (the results are not yet known for Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina).
The Monday following the second Wednesday in December – December 14 this year – the voters must meet in the capital of their respective state, and vote for the president of the United States. The vote of each grand voter must then be transmitted within nine days – that is, until December 23 – to the Senate in Washington.
Thirty-three states as well as the District of Columbia have laws that require voters to respect the popular vote. Thus, to avoid a situation of “disloyal great voter” (“Faithless elector”), North Carolina imposes a $ 500 fine and cancellation of the vote for non-compliance. In other states, such as Montana or Nevada, the law designates a replacement voter. However, since the electorate is chosen by the parties or the candidates, betrayals are rare. In addition, no “Faithless elector” never changed the outcome of an election.
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January 5: senatorial elections in Georgia
On November 3, American voters did not just have to choose their future president. The ballot roll also concerned both chambers of Congress.
- In the House of Representatives, which is fully renewed every two years, the Democrats have retained their majority.
- In the Senate, where a third of the seats were at stake, the two parties currently have 48 seats each. The balance of this chamber will therefore be played out in Georgia, where a second round is scheduled for January 5, 2021. To take control of the Senate, and thus facilitate President Biden’s action, the Democrats have no choice: they must win those two seats in a historically conservative state.
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January 6: Congress announces the name of the new president
The elected representatives of the House of Representatives and of the Senate must meet on January 6, 2021 during an exceptional session in Congress. On this occasion, parliamentarians will ensure the validity of the votes of the electorate. Then the President of the Senate, who is also the current Vice President, namely Mike Pence, will officially announce the results and announce the name of the new American head of state.
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January 20: official investiture
It is a solemn moment in the political life of the country. The inauguration ceremony of the president (“Inauguration Day”) will take place on January 20, 2021, in front of the Capitol in Washington. This day will mark the entry into office of the executive couple. Vice President Kamala Harris will be required to take the oath first, stating:
” I swear (or solemnly affirm that I will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, external or internal, that I will show loyalty and allegiance to it, that I take this obligation freely, without any intellectual reserve or spirit of mine. to distract from it, and I will perform well and loyally the duties of the charge which I am about to take. May God help me. “
It will then be President Biden’s turn to say:
” I swear (or solemnly affirm that I will loyally discharge the office of President of the United States, and that to the best of my ability, I will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. May God help me. “
By this date, Donald Trump must have left the White House. The Constitution is very clear on this point: the date of entry into office of the elected president is scheduled for January 20, the term of the outgoing president ending the same day at noon. If the fiery Republican persisted in his refusal to acknowledge his defeat, and that he would shut himself up in the Oval Office, the new “Commander-in-chief” would then be entitled to ask the secret services to expel him. Which would be a first in the country’s history.
Our selection of articles on the presidential election in the United States
Find the campaign chronicles of our correspondent in Washington here.
On the election:
And also :
