The 2024 presidential election is over, but the path to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 is just beginning. The votes have to be certified in the states, the Electoral College has to meet and then Congress counts the vote.

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,

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.

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.

Vice President Kamala Harris has not conceded the 2024 presidential election as of 7 a.m. CT. Former President Donald Trump was declared the victor Wednesday morning by the Associated Press. He currently has 277 electoral votes and is leading in the swing states of Arizona,

Former president Donald Trump has defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, according to FOX News and AP projections.