How Congress will certify Trump's electoral college victory on Jan. 6

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 4, 2025 11:22 AM PT | Mary Clare Jalonick

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WASHINGTON —  The congressional joint session to count electoral votes on Monday is expected to be much less eventful than the certification four years ago that was interrupted by a violent mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump who tried to stop the count and overturn the results of an election he lost to Joe Biden.

This time, Trump is returning to office after winning the 2024 election that began with Biden as his party’s nominee and ended with Vice President Kamala Harris atop the ticket. She will preside over the certification of her own loss, fulfilling the constitutional role in the same way that Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, did after the violence subsided on Jan. 6, 2021.

Usually a routine affair, the congressional joint session on Jan. 6 every four years is the final step in reaffirming a presidential election after the electoral college officially elects the winner in December. The meeting is required by the Constitution and includes several distinct steps.

A look at the joint session:

What happens when Congress meets?

Under federal law, Congress must meet Jan. 6 to open sealed certificates from each state that contain a record of their electoral votes. The votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes that are used for the occasion.

Bipartisan representatives of both chambers read the results out loud and do an official count. The vice president, as president of the Senate, presides over the session and declares the winner.

The Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes. If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote. That hasn’t happened since the 1800s, and won’t happen this time because Trump’s electoral win over Harris was decisive, 312-226.

[V_TWIN]

The inconvenient fact that President Trump said GO PEACEFULLY” is once again decitfully omitted.

[paulcissa]

” and overturn the results of an election he lost to Joe Biden.”

They just can’t help themselves. 1st ‘effing sentence. Screw the LA Slimes and the whole Enemedia complex.

[NavyShoe]

Major Matt Mason too.

[toddausauras]

Ok will check him out.

[digger48]

Stopped reading after the first line

[Phlyer]

They can't even get basic things right.

If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency . . .

That's wrong. It's actually thrown to the House is no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes.

This has been a Dhimm strategy since 2000 and Al Gore. He was trying to delay the Florida certification until after the Electoral College met, and then declare that, since Florida's electoral votes were not included when the Electoral College met, they are invalid. He'd have had a majority of the remaining votes.

Similarly (because - however you get there, it is what the Constitution says) Pence could have refused to certify the disputed Electoral College votes from states which had notified him that their electors were challenged due to invalid certification from their Secretaries of State, with the lack of validity due to election rules not voted on by the state legislatures as required by law. With the contested electoral votes thrown out no candidate would have a majority and the decision would have moved to the House of Representatives.

The Dhimms current tactic is to declare that since Trump is guilty of insurrection (without trial, or even actually being charged with that offense), any votes for him are invalid. They have said that gives Kamala the election, but I think it really means it moves to the House.

All based on the difference between 'a tie' and 'not receiving a majority'.

[grey_whiskers]

😂

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The vice president, as president of the Senate, presides over the session and declares the winner.

I hope this is broadcast LIVE. I want to see and hear her fiendish cackle when she declares the winner.

[Sacajaweau]

Someone please tell the ladies to wear boots instead of heels. Why are women so stupid about their shoes and safety.

[John S Mosby]

Congress accepts each States, State Legislature Certified Electoral Votes— decided in each State on the Day of the Meeting of the US Electoral College across the entire Nation- on the same day.

Congress DOES NOT CERTIFY ONE damned thing. It confirms each State’s Certified Electoral Votes as they are submitted in the Session. If a segment of Congress objects to any States Electors they can submit this to the VP Kamuimalola Harris (imagine that the drunk and stoned LOSER) to be gaveled down into a limited 2 hour discussion and voting on the individual objection. That’s it.

What would it take for the Election to be stymied in the Session— well if it was it would go to the new House of Representatives with each State’s vote for President decided by their entire State’s Legislative Delegation-from the House. And guess what Trump would win then, as well. None of the amended Electoral Act crap would change this. Period.

[Alas Babylon!]

...because Trump’s electoral win over Harris was decisive, 312-226...

Please say that again, LA Slimes!

...because Trump’s electoral win over Harris was decisive, 312-226...

[Fraxinus]

I believe he may have said that line *after* the riot started, as his speech ran long and the riot started when his speech was scheduled to end.

[Peter ODonnell]

Snowstorm is expected on monday in DC (10” possibly), wonder if it will have any impact on the day’s events?

[MayflowerMadam]

“a violent mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump who tried to stop the count and overturn the results of an election he lost to Joe Biden.”

Oy!

[Karoo]

“The oath of office never seemed so far away.”

Time passing for me is ...slow motion...

[gundog]

Should be some good video of The Squad (what’s left of them) having a sad, regardless.

[j.havenfarm]

Oh, my FRiend, that’s going to be the cherry on top, watching her preside. 4 years ago I was on mandatory (paid!) COVID leave because I’d been exposed. I’m fascinated by these technical moments when important things happen, so I planned to watch the whole thing on CSPAN, so I got to watch all the day’s developments. I imagine they will televise it and will be recording on Monday

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Thanks, J. "cherry on top, watching her preside" -- no kidding!! It's going to be sweet. I'm reminded of "The Great One" (Jackie Gleason)...

[Tunehead54]

L8r bump!