HARRISBURG — In a moment that crystallizes the essence of American democracy, the vote tallies from Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential election reached their finality on Tuesday. Gov. Josh Shapiro, embracing his role in this pivotal chapter, affixed his signature to the Certificate of Ascertainment — a formal declaration mandated by federal legislation and an integral thread in the fabric of the democratic process, as advised by the Department of State.
The numbers reveal a landscape where Republican candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance emerge triumphant, amassing an impressive 3,543,308 votes. Their success resonates through the hearts and minds of Pennsylvania’s electorate, albeit against the backdrop of a competitive arena. Meanwhile, the Democratic duo of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz trailed closely, garnering 3,423,042 votes, a margin that underscores a difference of 120,266 ballots.
The electoral tapestry is further enriched by the Green Party’s Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware, who collected 34,539 votes, while the Libertarian contenders, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat, accrued 33,318 votes—a signal of the diverse political undercurrents stirring within the state.
As the dust settled, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt took the reins, certifying the election returns on December 4, following the meticulous receipt of results from all 67 counties. With this certification in tow, the presidential electors for Trump and Vance are set to converge at noon on December 17, gathering within the storied chamber of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 60th Electoral College session.
That day, a significant assembly of electors from all 50 states, alongside Washington D.C., will unite for this constitutional ritual, dispatching results to the U.S. Senate’s president and the National Archives—an echo of the democratic ideals that bind the nation.
On January 6, during a joint session of Congress, these electoral votes will be tallied, paving the way for the ceremonial Inauguration Day on January 20. This is when Trump and Vance are poised to embark on their four-year journey at the helm of The White House.
Reflecting on this process, Shapiro remarked, “From day one of my administration, I made a commitment to the people of Pennsylvania that our Commonwealth would have a free, fair, safe, and secure presidential election — and the Department of State, under the leadership of Al Schmidt, delivered exactly that. More than 7 million legal, eligible voters made their voices heard in this election, and once again, voters across the Commonwealth were able to cast their ballots safely and securely. Our local Republican and Democratic county elections officials, ordinary Americans doing their part to make democracy work, worked tirelessly to ensure all 67 counties could administer a free and fair election.”
