Congress to Certify 2024 Election Results Amid Heightened Security

Congress is scheduled to gather Monday to certify the 2024 presidential election results, exactly four years after the violent January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The certification process is expected to proceed with significantly less drama than the tumultuous events of 2021, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump attempted to disrupt the certification of his 2020 election loss.

The inauguration of the newly elected president is set for Monday, January 20, 2025, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. The ceremony will take place at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., with the swearing-in expected to begin around noon ET.

The vice-president-elect will be sworn in first, reciting the same oath of office used since 1884. The president-elect will then take the oath as outlined in Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution. The inauguration is organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), which oversees events including the swearing-in, inaugural address, and pass in review.

Inauguration tickets, which are free, will be made available to the public through members of Congress. Some lawmakers may begin accepting ticket requests in the weeks leading up to the event. The JCCIC emphasizes that tickets are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Security measures for the 2025 inauguration are expected to be heightened, reflecting lessons learned from the 2021 Capitol attack. Federal and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating to ensure a safe and orderly transition of power.