The Electoral College: A 2020 Presidential Election Timeline

"Introduction
 During the course of a presidential election year, the election process for the President and Vice President goes forward within a familiar timeline of events. At the same time these events are taking place, a related series of procedures that governs the actions of the electoral college progresses on a parallel track. This report focuses on the electoral college timeline for the 2020 presidential election. For additional information on the electoral college in today’s presidential election process, see CRS Report RL32611, The Electoral College: How It Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections, by Thomas H. Neale. 

Presidential Elections: The Nomination and Election Campaign Timeline

In a presidential election year, campaigns for the nation’s highest offices include a number of sequential processes and events that take place over a period that may begin years before election day. Broadly defined, these include the informal campaign of candidate declarations, fundraising, organizing, and intraparty debates (various start times through February of the election year); the formal nomination campaign, in which candidates contest nominating caucuses and primaries (February-July); the national party conventions, where the presidential and vice presidential candidates are nominated (July-August); the general election campaign (August-November), including presidential and vice presidential debates (SeptemberOctober); and general election day, November 3, 2020.

The Electoral College Timeline: May 2020-January 6, 2021

During the election campaign, a series of events related to the electoral college’s operations proceeds on a parallel timeline, which overlaps both the nomination and general election timelines. It includes nomination of candidates for the office of elector; choice of the electors by the voters on general election day; ascertainment of the results in the states; meetings and votes by electors in their respective states; and reporting the results as directed by law. It culminates with the joint session of Congress at which the electoral votes are counted and the President and Vice President are declared to be elected. The electoral college timeline is governed by the U.S. Code at 3 U.S.C. §§1-18, the Twelfth and Twentieth Amendments to the Constitution, and state laws and political party rules..."
Electoral College