US Congress set to certify 2024 election amid expected snowstorm

On January 6, Congress will convene to certify the results of the 2024 presidential election, confirming President-elect Donald Trump’s victory ahead of his January 20 inauguration.

The process, mandated by federal law, is typically ceremonial and sombre, involving the unsealing and counting of electoral votes in alphabetical order by state. Vice President Kamala Harris, in her role as President of the Senate, will preside over the proceedings, marking a poignant moment as she oversees the certification of her own loss in the November election, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Unlike the turbulent certification of the 2020 election, when a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results, Monday’s session is expected to proceed without incident. Democrats and Republicans alike have accepted the 2024 outcome, and recent reforms, including the 2022 Electoral Count Reform Act, have clarified the vice president’s purely ministerial role in the process.

Although Washington is bracing for one of the largest snowstorms in recent years, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) confirmed that the certification will proceed as planned. “The House intends to certify President Trump’s election tomorrow as scheduled in accordance with federal law,” Johnson’s spokesperson Taylor Haulsee stated.

The Electoral Count Act stipulates that Congress meet on January 6 unless a new date is set through legislative action. In the past, Congress has adjusted the date under special circumstances, such as when January 6 fell on a Sunday in 2013. However, lawmakers have shown no intention of rescheduling this year, despite potential travel disruptions caused by the storm.

Increased security measures, put in place following the events of January 6, 2021, include reinforced fencing around the Capitol and 500 D.C. National Guard soldiers on standby. These measures reflect heightened caution but also underscore the expectation of a peaceful certification.

Following the certification, attention will shift to Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The timeline is tight, as former President Jimmy Carter’s remains are set to lie in state in the Capitol from January 7 to January 9. Any delays in the certification could complicate these arrangements, adding to the logistical considerations facing lawmakers.

By Vugar Khalilov