What exactly is happening on January 6? At 1 p.m. local time, federal parliamentarians (deputies and senators) will meet at the Capitol to count and endorse the votes of the 538 “electors”. In the American political system, they are responsible for formally electing the president and vice president based on the results of the popular vote in their respective states. In the context of the last presidential election, these “electors” fulfilled their duty on December 17, 2024. Donald Trump received 312 votes to Kamala Harris’s 226 – the majority being 270.
For black women in Belgium, Kamala Harris is a huge source of inspiration
The Al Gore precedent
Ironically, the counting of votes traditionally takes place under the aegis of the vice-president because he also holds the role of president of the Senate. He is even the one responsible for announcing the final figures following the reading of the results of the vote of the electors by state. In other words, Kamala Harris will proclaim her own defeat at the end of the meeting! In 2001, Vice President Al Gore found himself in the same situation following George W. Bush’s controversial victory.
Why the flags will be at half-mast for Donald Trump’s inauguration: “No American can be happy about it”
During the procedure, parliamentarians can formulate objections which, if deemed admissible by a fifth of each assembly (House of Representatives and Senate), must be debated by the deputies and senators separately. Such situations are rare. In the history of the United States, they have only occurred four times, including twice in January 2021. If a majority of elected officials in both legislative bodies deem an objection valid, the votes questioned are invalidated. But that never happened.
