The joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 is expected to be a smoother process compared to the session four years ago, which was disrupted by rioters seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
This time, former President Donald Trump returns to the White House after winning the 2024 election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris will preside over the certification process, fulfilling her constitutional duty in a manner similar to how then-Vice President Mike Pence certified Trump’s loss in 2021.
The Jan. 6 session is a constitutionally required step following the Electoral College’s formal vote in December. Here’s how the process will unfold:
What Happens When Congress Meets?
Congress convenes on Jan. 6 to count and certify the electoral votes. Sealed certificates from each state are brought to the session in traditional mahogany boxes. Representatives from both parties read the results aloud, and the votes are tallied.
The vice president, serving as the president of the Senate, presides over the session and formally announces the winner. Trump’s 312-226 Electoral College victory means no tie-breaking measures are necessary.
Congress revised the Electoral Count Act in 2022, defining the vice president’s role as strictly ceremonial. This came in response to the events of 2021, when Trump pressured Pence to reject the certified results—a request Pence declined.
The updated law also raised the threshold for objections, requiring support from at least one-fifth of members in both the House and Senate.
The presiding officer presents state-by-state electoral certificates, read aloud by appointed tellers from both chambers. After tallying the votes, the presiding officer announces the president and vice president-elect.
Objections and Their Thresholds
Lawmakers can object to a state’s vote, but such objections must be written and signed by one-fifth of each chamber. If an objection meets this threshold, the House and Senate debate it separately. Both chambers must agree for the objection to succeed; otherwise, the original votes are counted.
Historically, objections are rare and often unsuccessful. The most recent occurred in 2021, with both chambers rejecting challenges to the Arizona and Pennsylvania results.
Once certified, the president-elect is inaugurated on Jan. 20. With Harris conceding her defeat, no further challenges are anticipated.
