There is another little potential glitch in a significant process detail omitted above - the Electoral College process. Once counting of popular vote is finalised by about Dec 7, each state appoints its Electoral College Members (actual people) who are expected to then cast their Electoral College Votes by Dec14. They are expected to cast their Electoral College Vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state. Two issues here: 1. They are people and may cast their Electoral College Vote differently (look up "faithless electors" - it happens often enough). 2. State legislatures and Governors may try to influence the selection of Electoral College Members, so as to choose people who will not cast their Electoral College Vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state (an outlier to be sure, but each side of US politics seems the other as the enemy these days, so who know what machinations may occur in a couple of states).
