Election workers process ballots at the Maricopa County Tabulation Center ... (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Follow AP’s coverage of the election and what happens next. The 2024 presidential election is over, but the path to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 is ...

With Election Day in the books, the next step is the Electoral College. The process of electing the President of the United States can take almost two years and has several milestones along the way. However,

Because of the unpredictability of swing states, they are crucial in determining the outcome of presidential elections. Since states can "swing" for either candidate, candidates will focus on winning over said states throughout the campaign period.

In many key states in the 2024 election, it may take a while to know who has won — and much longer to get official, certified results.