On January 6, 2021, former President Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to protest the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, leading to a violent storming of the Capitol. This year, however, the only controversy surrounding the certification process was within the House Republicans over the selection of the speaker. There were assurances from lawmakers that there would be no violence or attempts to mount an insurrection against the Constitution during this year’s proceedings.
Unlike the previous election cycle, there have been no calls from prominent Democrats to contest the results of the 2024 election. Congress has also updated the laws governing the certification process, clarifying the role of the vice president as a merely ministerial one. Republicans who previously raised concerns about voter fraud in the 2020 election have since accepted the accuracy of the 2024 election results, signaling a shift in their stance on election integrity.
There are concerns that the calm surrounding this year’s certification process may be short-lived, with worries about future elections in 2029 and beyond. The prospect of only one side contesting election results poses a significant threat to the democratic process. However, the constitutional procedures for choosing the president remain in place, with the Electoral College casting their votes and Congress tallying and certifying the results in a joint session presided over by the vice president.
In 2021, Trump attempted to influence Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results, a move that was deemed unconstitutional. Since then, legislation has been passed to ensure that all state tallies must be read by the vice president during the certification process. Despite this, some House Republicans remain opposed to these changes, raising concerns about future challenges to the election results. It is hoped that the 2024 election will signal the end of baseless challenges to congressional certification.
Republicans attribute the lack of potential unrest to the decisive nature of Donald Trump’s victory in the swing states in the 2024 election. Trump’s significant margin of victory has reportedly stifled any potential unrest among his supporters. With Trump signaling that he will not run for office again, there is hope that the era of election denial may be coming to an end. The aftermath of the 2024 election and the response from both parties will be crucial in shaping the future of the certification process and election integrity in the United States.
