Electoral College vote to confirm peaceful transition of power between Biden and Trump
Federal lawmakers in America will convene to count the Electoral College votes on Monday evening in Washinton DC, officially confirming Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. 6 January also marks four years since the violent insurrection on Capitol Hill following Trumps' defeat in the 2020 US elections.
Trump, alongside vice president-elect JD Vance, secured 312 electoral votes, surpassing current vice president Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz, who received 226 votes. The certification will culminate in Trump’s inauguration on 20 January.
The proceedings, set to begin at 13:00 EST, follow the constitutional process outlined in the 12th Amendment and federal law. Electors met in their respective states on 17 December, 2024 to cast their votes for president and vice president. Once the vote count is complete, Harris will announce the certified totals, which, by law, “shall be deemed a sufficient declaration” of the winners.
"Fortunately, our democracy stood firm"
On Sunday evening, outgoing president Joe Biden reflected on the significance of 6 January, 2021 during remarks at the White House to newly elected Democratic members of Congress. “Our democracy was literally put to the test. Fortunately, our democracy stood firm,” Biden said.
Biden has often framed Trump as a threat to democratic values, a theme he highlighted throughout his re-election campaign. Despite his criticisms, Biden has accepted Trump’s 2024 victory, pledging a peaceful transfer of power.
“It is now our duty to tell the truth and remember what happened,” Biden urged. “Do not allow January 6 to be rewritten or even erased.”
Four years ago, then-president Trump held a rally near Capitol Hill, asserting that the election had been "stolen" from him. This rhetoric led to a violent assault on the US Capitol who, breached security barricades, attacked law enforcement officers, threatened lawmakers and vandalised the building.
Monday's proceedings are expected to unfold without incident, but security around Capitol Hill has ramped up with massive barricades and extra police presence. Additionally, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act in response to the attack four years ago, which was designed to prevent similar disruptions. The law raises the threshold for lawmakers to object to a state's electoral votes, making it more difficult to delay or undermine the certification process.
Capitol and Supreme Court buildings, Washington DC © PHOTO ANDREW LEYDEN / ZUMA PRESS WIRE
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