A formal tally of the Electoral College votes is underway in Congress. Under the Constitution, the final step in the 2020 presidential election is for a joint session of Congress to meet on Jan. 6 to count the votes and officially declare a winner.
Governors certified and sealed their states’ results after their electors signed off on them on Dec. 14, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won with 306 votes to Donald Trump and Mike Pence’s 232 votes.
This session is typically a ceremonial affair, but this year GOP members of both houses are expected to object to the 2020 election results and the session could last for hours.
Vice President Mike Pence is leading the certification and sent a letter to lawmakers stating he will not interfere with he process, directly defying the president’s wishes.
BREAKING: VP's office releases Mike Pence's letter to Congress: "It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution contains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not.” pic.twitter.com/blJYgDCuOF
— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) January 6, 2021