WASHINGTON — As the congressional joint session convenes on Monday to officially count the electoral votes, it is expected to unfold with far less tension compared to the chaotic certification process witnessed four years ago. That event was marred by a violent insurrection from supporters of then-President Donald Trump, who tried to disrupt the counting of votes and overturn the election results in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.

In a notable turn of events, Trump is poised to reclaim the presidency following his victory in the 2024 election, which featured Biden as the Democratic nominee and culminated with Vice President Kamala Harris leading the ticket. Harris will now oversee the certification of her own defeat, carrying out her constitutional responsibilities in a manner reminiscent of former Vice President Mike Pence’s actions after the turmoil of January 6, 2021.

Traditionally, the joint session of Congress held every four years on January 6 is a straightforward affair, serving as the final confirmation of a presidential election following the Electoral College’s official vote in December. This assembly is mandated by the Constitution and follows several distinct protocols.

Let’s delve into the specifics of what this joint session involves:

Under federal law, Congress must convene on January 6 to open the sealed certificates from each state that indicate their electoral votes. These votes are presented in specially designated mahogany boxes for the session.

Bipartisan representatives from both the House and Senate will read the results aloud and carry out an official count. The vice president, serving as the president of the Senate, presides over the session and announces the winning candidate.

The Constitution requires Congress to meet for the purpose of counting electoral votes. If there were to be a tie, the House of Representatives would determine the presidency, with each congressional delegation casting one vote. However, such a scenario hasn’t taken place since the 1800s and is unlikely this time, as Trump has decisively defeated Harris with an electoral margin of 312 to 226.

What’s Different This Time?

In response to the violence of 2021 and Trump’s attempts to disrupt the certification process, Congress has implemented stricter certification protocols.

One significant change is the revised Electoral Count Act, which was passed in 2022 and clarifies the vice president’s role during this process. This adjustment followed Trump’s pressure on Pence to contest the election results, a request that would have overstepped Pence’s ceremonial duties. Pence ultimately resisted those demands, recognizing his own defeat. Harris is expected to similarly fulfill her role without deviation.

The updated legislation explicitly states that the vice president does not have the authority to change the results during the January 6 session.

Harris and Pence are not the first vice presidents to oversee their own electoral losses. In 2001, Vice President Al Gore presided over the counting of the 2000 presidential election, which he narrowly lost to Republican George W. Bush, and had to dismiss several objections from his Democratic colleagues.

In 2017, Biden, while serving as vice president, oversaw the session that confirmed Trump’s victory, rejecting objections from House Democrats that did not have the backing of the Senate.

How Will the Session Unfold?

The presiding officer will kick off the session, presenting the electoral vote certificates in alphabetical order by state.

Designated tellers from both the House and Senate, representing both parties, will read each certificate aloud, recording and tallying the votes. At the end of this process, the presiding officer will announce which candidates have received the majority of votes for both the presidency and vice presidency.

What If There’s an Objection?

Once a teller has read the certificate for any state, any lawmaker may stand up to object to that state’s votes for any reason. However, for the objection to be officially considered, it must be submitted in writing and signed by one-fifth of each chamber.

This requirement raises the bar compared to previous years; formerly, only one member from each chamber was needed to support an objection. The 2022 law has made it more challenging to raise objections.

If any objection meets the necessary threshold—which is not expected this time—the joint session would be paused, and the House and Senate would separate to discuss the matter. For the objection to succeed, both chambers must approve it with a simple majority vote. If they do not, the original electoral votes will be counted as they are.

In 2021, both chambers rejected challenges to the electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Before 2021, the most significant objection was raised in 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes, citing voting irregularities.