美 대선 '결전의 날'... 그 이후에 벌어지는 일들은?<br /><br />So, when will we know the result?<br />This depends on a lot of factors. Many say it may take longer than usual this year.<br />Our Choi Won-jong guides us from Election Day to Inauguration Day. People often think of elections as a one-day event, but in the U.S., different state rules, timezones and deadlines mean the whole process takes much longer.<br />This is how the U.S. election works, starting on November 3rd.<br />It's not the total number of votes that decides the U.S. presidential election, but rather the electoral votes that decide who will be in the White House.<br />And all of the electoral votes in a state go to the same candidate the one who won the popular vote in that state.<br />For example, in California- the state with the most electoral votes, there are 2 senators and 53 House Representatives, so the state gets 55 votes.<br />Whoever wins in California gets all of them.<br />The media are usually able to announce a projected winner on election night itself, but there are still many votes left to be counted in the following days.<br />There are different deadlines for mail-in ballots usually three days after Election Day, but in the case of Washington state, as late as November 23rd.<br />Once each state has counted up all the ballots, an official winner is determined for the country as a whole.<br />By December 8th, each state has to produce a certificate indicating the final vote count and which candidate gets the votes in the Electoral College.<br />For all but two states, it's winner takes all.<br />The electors cast their ballots on December 14th in their state's capital city, and then the results are sent to Washington DC.<br />A few weeks later, on January 6th, the Senate and the House of Representatives assemble at the Capitol Building in Washington.<br />If one candidate has a majority of 2-hundred-70 or more electoral votes out of the total 5-hundred 38, then they are announced as the President-elect.<br />If no candidate can get to 2-hundred-70, then the House decides in a vote.<br />Finally, on 20th of January, the new president and vice president take the oath of office at the West Front of the Capitol.<br />The Vice President goes first, followed by the President, sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.<br />Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.<br />
