Presidential electors across the United States convened at their respective state capitals on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, to cast their electoral votes, solidifying Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential win. This ceremonial process marked a significant step in formalizing the election results.
In New Hampshire, the state's four electors cast their ballots for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. This occurred at the New Hampshire Statehouse, overseen by Secretary of State Dave Scanlan. Harris narrowly defeated Donald Trump in New Hampshire, a key swing state in the region, winning by approximately three percentage points.
Secretary Scanlan emphasized the significance of the event, stating, "This is the formal vote for President and Vice President of the United States. Every state in the country is currently undertaking this process." New Hampshire was among the first states to conduct their Electoral College vote, along with Indiana, Tennessee, and Vermont.
When citizens vote in a presidential election, they are essentially voting for electors pledged to their chosen candidates. These electors are expected to cast their ballots in line with the popular vote outcome in their state.
The electoral votes from each state will be officially certified during a joint session of Congress on January 6th. The presidential inauguration will take place two weeks later, on January 20th.
Each state's political parties select their electors prior to the general election. In a decisive victory, Harris secured the presidency, winning both the popular vote and the majority of electoral votes (312 to 226) against Trump.
This report was filed by Paul Steinhauser, a political reporter based in New Hampshire.
