States “lock in” votes for Biden

The COVID Diaries – 233 8th December

Donald Trump is continuing his fight to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory but he has failed to stop another key part of the post-election process. With the exception of Wisconsin, every state appears to have met a deadline in federal law that requires Congress to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and then sent to the Capitol for counting on 6 January. Those votes will elect Joe Biden as the country’s next president.

The deadline, which falls today – 8th December, is known as the “safe harbour” provision under which the states “lock in” their electoral votes by certifying their results and resolving any state court legal challenges.

Federal law requires that if a state has completed its post-election certification by 8 December, Congress is required to accept the results.