The 1877 Act did not limit the VP’s role only to something ceremonial, but instead, established a procedure for handling competing electors from each state.
The Act established a special Electoral Commission with fifteen members, including five members from the Senate, five members from the House, and five Supreme Court Justices.
Pence could have arguably sent disputed electors to that Commission. Instead, he acted as if he had no authority to do anything.
It was ONLY AFTER the 2020 Election, that the Democrat controlled Congress amended the 1877 Act to declare that the VP’s role is only “ministerial in nature.” But as President Trump has asked, if the VP’s role were merely “ministerial” or “ceremonial” to begin with, why now pass a law declaring it ministerial?
I don't believe there was any such "Electoral Commission" in place in 2020. I think that was only established for the 1876 election.
Trump had no real support in the Congress to contest the election at that point. The Democrats controlled the House, and McConnell controlled the Senate.
If Pence had done anything to disrupt or delay the vote counting, he and Trump both would have been immediately impeached by the House, and likely convicted in the Senate within days.
The House immediately impeached him anyway, even after Biden was officially declared the winner. The Senate just didn’t go along, saying the matter was moot AT THAT POINT.