What to expect when Congress meets to count Electoral College votes and Republicans object – By Nicholas Wu & Camille Caldera (USA Today) / January 6 2021
Congress’ count of the Electoral College, a normally symbolic affair affirming the president-elect’s victory, is set to be a contentious, lengthy process when the House and Senate convene in a joint session to count the electoral votes on Wednesday.
In an effort that has divided the Republican Party, over a dozen Senate Republicans and at least 50 House Republicans are set to object to the counting of electoral votes from states that President Donald Trump contested after Election Day. No Democrats are expected to object to the results.
Trump has urged Republican lawmakers to join the objections, but the effort is unlikely to succeed because a majority of both the House and Senate is needed to exclude any electoral votes.
Congress is set to meet on Wednesday at 1 p.m. EST as protesters descend on Washington. Here is what to expect:
What is the procedure for the count?
Members of the House of Representatives and Senate will meet in a joint session in the House Chamber to count the electoral votes and declare an official winner. States already certified the results of their own elections. The procedures for the session come from the Electoral Count Act of 1887.
