The 2024 presidential election reached a significant milestone on Tuesday, December 17th, as presidential electors convened in state capitals across the nation to formally cast their electoral votes. This process, a constitutional requirement, solidified President-elect Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, marking his return to the White House after a single term out of office. The Electoral College vote serves as the official mechanism by which the president and vice president are chosen, translating the popular vote into electoral votes allocated to each state.
In New Hampshire, a swing state that Harris narrowly carried, the state’s four electors cast their ballots for the Democratic ticket of Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan oversaw the proceedings, emphasizing the significance of the event as part of a nationwide process to formally elect the next president and vice president. The Granite State was among the first four states, including Indiana, Tennessee, and Vermont, to conduct their Electoral College vote on Tuesday.
The Electoral College system operates by assigning each state a number of electors based on its congressional representation – the sum of its senators (always two) and its representatives in the House (proportional to population). When voters cast their ballots in the presidential election, they are technically voting for these electors who have pledged to support their chosen candidates. While electors are expected to vote in line with the popular vote outcome in their respective states, there have been rare instances of “faithless electors” who deviate from this expectation.
Following the state-level Electoral College votes, the results are sent to Congress for certification. This crucial step will take place on January 6th during a joint session, officially declaring the winner of the presidential election. The inauguration of the president-elect, Donald Trump, is scheduled for two weeks later, on January 20th, marking the commencement of his second term. This inauguration follows a tumultuous period in American politics, including Trump’s previous impeachment and acquittal, as well as ongoing debates about election integrity.
The selection of electors is a pre-election process managed by the political parties within each state. These individuals are typically party loyalists and activists chosen for their commitment to the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees. This year’s election saw Donald Trump secure a convincing victory, not only winning the Electoral College but also the popular vote, a feat he had not achieved in his two previous presidential bids. This marks a shift from the 2016 and 2020 elections, where he won the presidency through the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote.
Trump’s victory in 2024 represents a significant political development, as he reclaimed the presidency after being defeated by Joe Biden in 2020. His triumph in all seven key battleground states underscores his enduring appeal among a substantial segment of the electorate. The final Electoral College tally of 312 votes for Trump and 226 for Harris reflects the decisive nature of his victory, paving the way for his return to the Oval Office and setting the stage for the next chapter of his presidency. The political landscape leading up to the 2024 election was highly charged, with debates focused on economic issues, social justice, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
