Rep. Jack Bergman, Republican
Rep. Lisa McClain, Republican
As required under the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, the 538-member Electoral College voted Dec. 14 on state-certified election results and declared Biden and Harris the winners of the election with 306 electoral votes, compared with 232 for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Michigan s 16 electoral votes went to Biden-Harris. A ticket needed 270 electoral votes to win the election.
The results were then delivered to Pence, who as president of the Senate presided over Wednesday s joint session of Congress and declared Biden and Harris as the winners. Wednesday was the last chance before Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, to challenge the election results.
UpdatedThu, Jan 7, 2021 at 12:10 pm ET
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One Maryland Republican objected to Electoral College votes in Pennsylvania and Arizona. All Maryland Democrats in the congressional delegation voted in favor of confirming President-elect Joe Biden s win. (Shutterstock)
WASHINGTON, DC Maryland s congressional delegation voted to count the 2020 Electoral College votes confirming Democrat Joe Biden as the nation s 46th president, despite one member s opposition.
Congressman Andy Harris, a Republican who represents part of Baltimore and Harford counties, said he planned to vote against the electoral confirmation.
He objected to the certifying the electoral votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania, The Baltimore Sun reported.
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The joint session of Congress Wednesday was the last hurdle before the Jan. 20 inauguration of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
UpdatedThu, Jan 7, 2021 at 3:28 pm CT
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Sen. Richard Shelby was one of only two of Alabama s congressional delegation who did not object to the final Electoral College count. (Getty Images North America/Pool)
WASHINGTON, DC All but two members of Alabama s congressional delegation objected to the final Electoral College count in Wednesday s session. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) were the only Alabama congress members to approve of the final count.
Wednesday s vote was supposed to be the last hurdle before the Jan. 20 inauguration of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, but a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol Building Wednesday afternoon, putting an end to a joint session of Congress. Capitol Police cleared the building Wednesday evening, and the session resumed shortly after 8 p.m. eastern time.
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A pro-Trump mob enters the Roturnda of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden s 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC After it was disrupted by protesters storming the Capitol building on Wednesday, Congress voted to certify the 2020 Electoral College votes confirming Democrat Joe Biden as the nation s 46th president, despite a symbolic fight by allies of President Donald Trump to subvert the vote so he can remain in the White House.
Wednesday s vote by a joint session of Congress was the last hurdle before the Jan. 20 inauguration of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey s 5th District voted to certify the Electoral College votes.
Here are answers to the biggest questions surrounding the proceedings.
How is a challenge made?
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Under a concurrent resolution approved this week by the House and Senate, two tellers from the Senate and two tellers from the House will take turns announcing the certificates of electoral votes for each state in alphabetical order.
After a certificate of electoral votes for Biden or Trump is announced, any lawmaker may stand up to voice their objection.
The objection must be presented in writing and must have the signature of at least one member of the House and one member of the Senate. It must state “clearly and concisely” the grounds for objection.