Kamala to preside over electoral college vote counting process

US Vice President Kamala Harris will today (Monday) preside over the official certification of the November presidential election results.

Harris, who lost to Donald Trump in the poll will be at the Congress to preside over the exercise.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that the process will go on as planned, commencing at 9pm in spite of the weather.

"Whether we're in a blizzard or not, we're going to be in that chamber making sure this is done,” he said.

As per the US constitution, Harris who is also the president of the senate, is required to be present during the joint Congress session where the counting of electoral votes will happen.

Her job entails reading out the number of electoral college votes won by each candidate.

Trump won all seven of the country's swing states, helping him to victory in the electoral college, the mechanism that decides who takes the presidency.

“Today, I will perform my constitutional duty as Vice President to certify the results of the 2024 election. This duty is a sacred obligation—one I will uphold guided by love of country, loyalty to our constitution, and unwavering faith in the American people,” Harris said.

The process is happening only two weeks ahead of the inauguration of the next president on January 20.

If any objections to the electoral votes are made, they must be submitted in writing and be signed by at least one-fifth of the members of the House and one-fifth of the Senators.

If objections are presented, the House and Senate withdraw to their respective chambers to consider the merits of the objection(s) under procedures set out in Federal law. 

Only two grounds for objection are acceptable: that the electors of the State were not lawfully certified under a Certificate of Ascertainment or that the vote of one or more electors has not been regularly given.

If no presidential candidate wins at least 270 electoral votes (a majority of the 538 available votes), under the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, the House of Representatives decides the presidential election.

If necessary, the House would elect the President by majority vote, choosing from among the three candidates who received the greatest number of electoral votes.

The vote would be taken by State, with each State having one vote.

The District of Columbia does not vote because it doesn't have voting members in the House of Representatives.

If no Vice Presidential candidate wins at least 270 electoral votes (a majority or the 538 available votes), under the 12th Amendment, the Senate elects the Vice President.

If necessary, the Senate would elect the Vice President by majority vote, choosing between the two candidates who received the greatest number of electoral votes. Each senator would have one vote.