Officially, the election of Trump as US President is not carried out by the citizens, but by a college of electors, the so-called Electoral College.
Source: AFP
During the day, all 538 electors in the respective states cast their votes – a purely formal act with no surprises. As expected, the Republican Trump received 312 votes, while his Democratic opponent received 226 voters.
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Congress announces result on January 6th
Each elector receives his or her own ballot, which is sent including the signature of Vice President Harris in her capacity as President of the US Senate. Copies go to the state secretary of state, the presiding judge of the county where electors meet, and the U.S. National Archives in Washington.
US election: results at a glance (Electoral College + map)
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The official result will not be announced in Congress until January 6th, and the 47th President of the United States will be sworn in two weeks later.
Clear election victory against Harris
Trump clearly won the election against Harris in November. Not only was he able to win in all the crucial “swing states,” but he was also the first Republican since George W. Bush in 2004 to receive the absolute majority of the popular vote.
While the “Popular Vote” reflects the total number of votes of all voters across the country, the majority in the electoral college is crucial for election victory. This system is based on the complicated “winner take all” principle – which means that a US president can be elected even if he received fewer votes nationwide than his opponent.
The electoral process will be formally concluded with the inauguration of the new president on January 20th. At a solemn ceremony in front of the Capitol in Washington, Trump will take his oath of office (“inauguration”).
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Parliamentary tailwind
In the congressional elections in the USA, which took place at the same time as the presidential election, the Republicans secured a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This gives Trump a powerful starting position for implementing his political agenda.
It remains unclear whether he will coordinate more closely with leading Republicans or – as in the past – pursue a more impulsive and independent line.
Source: dpa
