US presidential election 2024: what are the most important dates?

A voter fills out their ballot at a polling place at Bedford High School on January 23, 2024 in Bedford, New Hampshire. (Joe Raedle | Getty Images)

Here’s a timeline of events related to the election between now and Inauguration Day next January.
Republican vice presidential candidate on October 1 J.D. Vance and Democratic rival Tim Walz took part in a debate hosted by CBS News.

2025
January 6: The vice president presides over the Electoral College during a joint session of Congress, certifies the results and announces who has been elected.
Before the count on January 6, 2021, Trump criticized his vice president, Mike Pence, for refusing to intervene in Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory. On that day, the US Capitol was attacked by Trump supporters who tried to stop the counting process. Biden’s victory was officially confirmed early the next day.
Congress has since passed the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022, which requires approval from one-fifth of the House and Senate to consider a challenge to a state’s results — a much higher bar than previously set when a single lawmaker from each state chamber could create a challenge.