Congress is currently convening in a joint session to carry out the important task of counting the Electoral College votes and officially declaring the next President of the United States. This process, as outlined in the 12th Amendment of the Constitution, is a crucial step in the transition of power.
The procedure involves Vice President Kamala Harris, in her capacity as the president of the Senate, opening each state's certificate of electoral votes. These certificates are then handed over to designated 'tellers,' with two individuals from both the House and Senate serving in this role. The tellers are responsible for reading, recording, and tallying the electoral votes from each state and the District of Columbia.
During this phase of the process, members of Congress have the opportunity to challenge the electoral votes of a particular state. However, any objections must be submitted in writing and signed by at least one-fifth of the House and one-fifth of the Senate. This requirement represents a higher threshold compared to previous years, where only one member from each chamber was needed to pause the proceedings. The criteria for raising an objection have also been made more stringent due to the 2022 Electoral Count Reform Act.
Once all the votes have been tallied, Vice President Harris will announce the certified count. As per the law, this declaration will be considered final and will officially determine the individuals elected as President and Vice President of the United States.
This process underscores the importance of the Electoral College in the American electoral system and highlights the meticulous procedures in place to ensure a smooth and legitimate transition of power.
