 "Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and former President Donald Trump (right). AP")
With just two days left, the stage is all set for the much-awaited US presidential election.
Approximately 244 million people are qualified to vote on November 5 but polls indicate that the election outcome will depend less on the national voter turnout and more on voters in swing states.
On one hand is Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and on the other is former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump along with his running mate JD Vance.
America witnessed a turbulent summer with President Joe Biden dropping out of the race following a catastrophic debate with Trump on June 27. This led to Vice President Kamala Harris replacing him as the Democratic nominee.
Meanwhile, Trump faced multiple assassination attempts.
As the date for the showdown approaches, here are some key dates and events relating to the presidential.
November 5
This is when voters across the United States will cast their ballots for president.
November 25
This will be the last day for 17 states along with the District of Columbia to accept postal votes postmarked for Election Day, reported Mint.
November 26
Donald Trump will be sentenced in connection to a case of hush money in Manhattan where he was found guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star . Trump is the first sitting or former US president to be convicted of a crime in the history of the country. Trump has denied wrongdoing. Sentencing was originally due to take place on September 18.
December 17
Electors, who together form the Electoral College , meet in their respective states and the District of Columbia to select the president and vice president.
December 25
The electoral votes must be received by this date by the president of the Senate - a role held by the vice president, currently Harris - and the archivist.
January 6, 2025
The vice president presides over the Electoral College vote count at a joint session of Congress, announces the results and declares who has been elected.
It is to be noted that on this day in 2021, the US Capitol was attacked by Trump supporters trying to stop the count after then-President Trump lambasted his Vice President, Mike Pence, for refusing to try to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Biden’s win was certified early the next day.
Congress has since passed the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022, which requires approval of one-fifth of the House and Senate to consider a challenge to a state’s results – a much higher bar than existed before when at least one member each in the Senate and House of Representatives could together trigger a challenge.
January 20, 2025
The inauguration of the election winner and their vice president takes place. At this ceremony, the victor and the vice president are officially sworn into office.
With inputs from Reuters