Even while we are waiting on election results, there are things we can do to prepare our organizations for the new president and Congress.
You're almost certainly preparing for 2025 — for those of us in policy, that means thinking about the outcome of November's elections up and down the ballot. This election is on a knife's edge, not just for the presidency, but also for control of the U.S. House and Senate. That means that absentee and mail-in ballots will matter, and possibly even be decisive in a few states.
Buckle up; we probably won't know the 2024 election results on November 5. The problem is that 37 states and the District of Columbia don't start counting absentee and mail-in ballots until Election Day – including the swing states of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Then, once the results are in, the incoming president is likely to have a few surprises in store for when they take office.
Uncertainty can be frustrating, so Cascade pulled together resources that can help you set expectations and make the most of the time between now and Inauguration Day.
Tips for guiding organizations through the 2024 election
It can feel difficult to sit with the uncertainty of an unresolved election, especially when your teams and partners (and sometimes even customers!) look to you for guidance. There are actions you can take to make the most of this time.
Make a candidate and policy tracker for your organization.
You'll learn the outcome from many states relatively early, giving you a sense of process and certainty. This way, when your stakeholders ask for information, you can give a meaningful update: "We know we'll have these representatives in Congress and we know these outcomes from the ballot measures we're watching. We're still waiting on these other results."
Don’t schedule election updates on November 6.
If you’re a policy team reporting on the elections, set the expectation now that your full updates will come a few weeks after the election. This helps create the expectation within your organization that news will come later.
Identify and cultivate new champions.
Some races will have clear results early. Of the new faces in Congress and at the state level, identify potential champions for your organization. Who is an expert on your issues? Who has hands-on experience? You can reach out to these people early, even before inauguration, and start fostering relationships. Often, newly elected politicians remember and value the first organizations to reach out.
Encourage patience.
Election results take time. You can model patience and share accurate information with your colleagues and external stakeholders. The non-partisan resources collected below can be shared with people who have questions about the election process.
Foster a welcoming space at work.
Everyone is processing the election differently. Don’t assume your colleagues share your political views, but do give them space to process whatever emotions they’re having as we all wait for results of the election to come in.
Key dates after election day
At the federal level, there are a few milestones to watch between Election Day and Inauguration Day. Most of these are technically formalities, but after the 2020 election, observers are paying closer attention to them.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 5
Electors Named by States: No later than Wednesday, December 11
Electors Cast Votes: Tuesday, December 17
Electoral Votes Received in Washington: No later than Tuesday, December 25
Congress is Sworn In: Friday, January 3
Congress Counts Electoral Votes: Monday, January 6 (In 2020, this was the date of the insurrection and riots on Capitol Hill.)
Inauguration Day: Monday, January 20
The Bipartisan Policy Center has more detail on the federal election calendar. There may be additional deadlines or events related to specific state elections.
Resources while you wait for 2024 election results
There are countless high quality, non-partisan resources laying out election rules and regulations, candidate guides, and voting guidelines. Here are a few of our favorites.
The National Conference of State Legislatures has a comprehensive set of election resources focused on all 50 states and the federal level. You can search by state or by issue.
The Brennan Center for Justice covers election transparency and fairness, including assessments on gerrymandering, election integrity, and voter subversion.
Ballotpedia is the Swiss army knife of elections, covering everything from district maps to who held a specific Congressional seat decades ago. Its 2024 voter toolkit lets you look up sample ballots in your jurisdiction so you can make a personalized voting plan.
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