Congressional Record/Volume 167/Issue 4/House/Counting Electoral Votes
COUNTING ELECTORAL VOTES—JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE HELD PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1
At 12:59 p.m., the Sergeant at Arms, Paul D. Irving, announced the Vice President and the Senate of the United States.
The Senate entered the Hall of the House of Representatives, headed by the Vice President and the Secretary of the Senate, the Members and officers of the House rising to receive them.
The Vice President took his seat as the Presiding Officer of the joint convention of the two Houses, the Speaker of the House occupying the chair on his left. Senators took seats to the right of the rostrum as prescribed by law.
The joint session was called to order by the Vice President.
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES
Mr. Griffith. Mr. Vice President, parliamentary inquiry.
The Vice President. The gentleman from Virginia will state his parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. Griffith. Mr. Vice President, in order to follow the Speaker’s instructions that only a limited number of people be on the floor, may I ask how one would make an objection or make a parliamentary inquiry in the future if you are not on the floor but in the gallery.
The Vice President. Under section 18 of title 3, United States Code, debate is not permitted in the joint session.
Mr. Griffith. Further parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. Vice President, I am not attempting to debate. I am trying to find out how a parliamentary inquiry or a parliamentary point of order would be made in following with the Speaker’s request that most of us not be on the floor. How do you make one of those points of order when you don’t know what is going to happen later?
The Vice President. Respectfully, the gentleman’s parliamentary inquiry constitutes debate, which is not permitted in the joint session under section 18 of title 3, United States Code.
Madam Speaker, Members of Congress, pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States, the Senate and House of Representatives are meeting in joint session to verify the certificates and count the votes of the electors of the several States for President and Vice President of the United States.
After ascertainment has been had that the certificates are authentic and correct in form, the tellers will count and make a list of the votes cast by the electors of the several States.
The tellers on the part of the two Houses will take their places at the Clerk’s desk.
The tellers, Mr. Blunt and Ms. Klobuchar on the part of the Senate, and Ms. Lofgren and Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois on the part of the House, took their places at the desk.
The Vice President. Without objection, the tellers will dispense with the reading of the formal portions of the certificates.
There was no objection.
The Vice President. After ascertaining that the certificates are regular in form and authentic, the tellers will announce the votes cast by the electors for each State, beginning with Alabama, which the Parliamentarian has advised me is the only certificate of vote from that State, and purports to be a return from the State, and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Alabama seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 9 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 9 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Alabama that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Alaska, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Alaska seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 3 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Alaska that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Arizona, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote that the State purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Arizona seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 11 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 11 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Arizona that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
Mr. Gosar. Mr. Vice President, I, Paul Gosar from Arizona, rise for myself and 60 of my colleagues to object to the counting of the electoral ballots from Arizona.
The Vice President. Is the objection in writing and signed by a Senator?
Mr. Gosar. Yes, it is.
Senator Cruz. It is.
The Vice President. An objection presented in writing and signed by both a Representative and a Senator complies with the law, chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code.
The Clerk will report the objection.
The Clerk read the objection as follows:
Objection to Counting the Electoral Votes of the State of Arizona
We, a Member of the House of Representatives and a United States Senator, object to the counting of the electoral votes of the State of Arizona on the ground that they were not, under all of the known circumstances, regularly given.
Paul Gosar,
Ted Cruz,
SENATORS
Mike Braun, John Kennedy, Ron Johnson, Steve Daines, James Lankford, Bill Hagerty, Marsha Blackburn.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Mo Brooks AL–5, Andy Biggs AZ–5, Jim Jordan OH–4, Madison Cawthorn NC–11, Scott Perry PA–10, Mike Kelly PA–16, Clay Higgins LA–3, John W. Rose TN–6, Bill Posey FL–8, Jeff Duncan SC–3, Brian Babin TX–36, Louie Gohmert TX–1, Brian J. Mast FL–18, Warren Davidson OH–8, Andy Harris MD–1, Steven Palazzo MS–4, Doug Lamborn CO–5, Kat Cammack FL–3.
Tracey Mann KS–1, Bob Good VA–5, Adrian Smith NE–3, Billy Long MO–7, Jack Bergman MI–1, Michael Cloud TX–27, Rick Crawford AR–1, Roger Williams TX–25, Bob Gibbs OH–7, Russ Fulcher ID–1, Ted Budd NC–13, Barry Moore AL–2, Lee Zeldin NY–1, Jake LaTurner KS–2, David Rouzer NC–7, Jason Smith MO–8, Lauren Boebert CO–3, Chuck Fleischmann TN–3, Tim Burchett TN–2, Chris Jacobs NY–27.
Andrew S. Clyde GA–9, Lance Gooden TX–5, Diana Harshbarger TN–1, Mary E. Miller IL–15, Mark E. Green TN–7, Ron Estes KS–4, Neal Dunn FL–2, Ronny Jackson TX–13, Ralph Norman SC–5, Joe Wilson SC–2, Vicky Hartzler MO–4, Scott DesJarlais TN–4, Marjorie Taylor Greene GA–14, Doug LaMalfa CA–1, Jeff Van Drew NJ–2, Ben Cline VA–6, Michael D. Rogers AL–3, Markwayne Mullin OK–2, Pat Fallon TX–4, Randy K. Weber TX–14.
The Vice President. Are there further objections to the certificate from the State of Arizona?
There was no objection.
Ms. DeGette. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, every Member in this Chamber took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and there is only one vote tonight for those who took that oath, and that vote is to reject this challenge.
The Speaker. All time for debate has expired.
The question is, Shall the objection to the Arizona electoral college vote count submitted by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) be agreed to.
The question was taken; and the Speaker announced that the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. Jordan. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The Speaker. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were—yeas 121, nays 303, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 10]
YEAS—121
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NAYS—303
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NOT VOTING—7
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Messrs. Mooney, Wittman, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Young, and Grothman changed their vote from “yea” to “nay.”
Messrs. Johnson of Ohio, Reschenthaler, and Mrs. Walorski changed their vote from “nay” to “yea.”
So the objection was not agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated against:
Mrs. Kim of California. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted “nay” on rollcall No. 10.
The Speaker. The Clerk will now notify the Senate of the action of the House, informing that body that the House is now ready to proceed in joint session with the further counting of the electoral vote for the President and the Vice President. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker. To remind both sides of the aisle, during in the joint session, there are 11 House Republicans, 11 House Democrats, 11 House Senate Democrats, 11 Senate Republicans. 44 Members on the floor. Please view the proceedings from your offices. Thank you.
This is not a suggestion. That is a direction, in the interest of good example to the public of how serious we take the coronavirus threat and the need for social distancing.
Please, my colleagues, if you are not participating in the next part of this, please return to your offices.
I wish to remind Members that we have to reduce the number of Members on the floor to the gallery to witness the proceedings from there, in a relative number. So first come, first serve.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
A message from the Senate by Ms. Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that the Secretary of the Senate shall inform the House of Representatives that the Senate is ready to proceed in joint session with the further counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President.
At 11:35 p.m., the Sergeant at Arms, Paul D. Irving, announced the Vice President and the Senate of the United States.
The Senate entered the Hall of the House of Representatives, headed by the Vice President and the Secretary of the Senate, the Members and officers of the House rising to receive them.
The Vice President took his seat as the Presiding Officer of the joint convention of the two Houses, the Speaker of the House occupying the chair on his left. Senators took seats to the right of the rostrum as prescribed by law.
The Vice President. The joint session of Congress to count the electoral vote will resume. The tellers will take their chairs.
The two Houses retired to consider separately and decide upon the vote of the State of Arizona, to which an objection has been filed.
The Secretary of the Senate will report the action of the Senate.
The Secretary of the Senate read the order of the Senate, as follows:
Ordered, That the Senate by a vote of 6 ayes to 93 nays rejects the objection to the electoral votes cast in the State of Arizona for Joseph R. Biden, Jr., for President and Kamala D. Harris for Vice President.
The Vice President. The Clerk of the House will report the action of the House.
The Clerk of the House read the order of the House, as follows:
Ordered, That the House of Representatives rejects the objection to the electoral vote of the State of Arizona.
The Vice President. Pursuant to the law, chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, because the two Houses have not sustained the objection, the original certificate submitted by the State of Arizona will be counted as provided therein.
The tellers will now record and announce the vote of the State of Arkansas for President and Vice President in accordance with the action of the two Houses.
This certificate from Arkansas, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State, and purports to be a return from the State, and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Arkansas seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 6 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 6 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Arkansas that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from California, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of California seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 55 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 55 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of California that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Colorado, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State, and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Colorado seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 9 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 9 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Colorado that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Connecticut, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Connecticut seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 7 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 7 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Connecticut that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
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The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Delaware, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Delaware seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 3 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Delaware that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from the District of Columbia, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from the District that purports to be a return from the District and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the District purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the District of Columbia seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 3 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the District of Columbia that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Florida, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Florida seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 29 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 29 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Florida that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Georgia, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Georgia seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 16 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 16 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. For what purpose does the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Hice) rise?
Mr. Hice of Georgia. Mr. President, myself, members of the Georgia delegation, and some 74 of my Republican colleagues and I object to the electoral vote from the State of Georgia on the grounds that the election conducted on November 3 was faulty and fraudulent due to unilateral actions by the secretary of state to unlawfully change the State’s election process without approval from the General Assembly and thereby setting the stage for an unprecedented amount of fraud and irregularities. I have signed the objection myself.
The Vice President. Sections 15 and 17 of title 3, United States Code, require that any objection be presented in writing and signed by a Member of the House of Representatives and a Senator.
Is the objection in writing and signed by a Member and a Senator?
Mr. Hice of Georgia. Mr. President, prior to the actions and events of today, we did, but following the events of today, it appears that some Senators have withdrawn their objection.
The Vice President. In that case, the objection cannot be entertained.
This certificate from Hawaii, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Hawaii seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 4 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 4 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Hawaii that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Idaho, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, thecertificate of the electoral vote of the State of Idaho seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 4 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 4 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Idaho that the teller has certified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Illinois, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Illinois seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 20 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 20 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Illinois that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Indiana, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Indiana seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 11 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 11 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Indiana that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Iowa, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Iowa seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 6 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 6 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Iowa that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Kansas, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Kansas seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 6 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 6 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Kansas that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the Commonwealth of Kentucky seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 8 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of Indiana received 8 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Louisiana, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Louisiana seems to be regular in form and authentic, and appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 8 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 8 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Louisiana that the teller has verified to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Maine, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Maine seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 3 votes for President, and Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 1 vote for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 3 votes for Vice President, and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 1 vote for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Maine that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Maryland, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Maryland seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 10 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 10 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Maryland that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Massachusetts, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of electoral vote of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 11 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 11 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Michigan, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Michigan seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 16 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 16 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. For what reason does the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. Greene) rise?
Mrs. Greene of Georgia. Mr. President, I, along with 70 of my Republican colleagues, object to the counting of the electoral votes for the State of Michigan on the grounds that the error rate exceeds the FEC rate allowed at 0.0008 percent, and that the people who signed affidavits at risk of perjury, their voices have not been heard in a court of law.
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The Vice President. Sections 15 and 17 of title 3 of the U.S. Code, require that any objection be presented in writing and signed by a Member of the House of Representatives and a Senator.
Is the objection in writing and signed by a Member and a Senator?
Mrs. Greene of Georgia. The objection is in writing, not signed by a Senator.
The Vice President. In that case, the objection cannot be entertained.
Are there any further objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of Michigan that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing no further objections, this certificate from Minnesota, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Minnesota seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 10 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 10 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of Minnesota that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Mississippi, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Mississippi seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 6 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 6 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of Mississippi that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Missouri, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Missouri seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 10 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 10 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of Missouri that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Montana, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Montana seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump from the State of Florida received 3 votes for President and Michael R. Pence from the State of Indiana received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of Montana that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Nebraska, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Nebraska seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 4 votes for President; and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 1 vote for President; and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 4 votes for Vice President; and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 1 vote for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote from the State of Nebraska that the teller has verified is regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Nevada, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Nevada seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 4 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 6 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. For what purpose does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Brooks) rise?
Mr. Brooks of Alabama. Mr. President, I and 55 other Members of the United States House of Representatives object to the electoral vote for the State of Nevada in order to protect the lawful votes of Nevada and all other American citizens.
The Vice President. Sections 15 and 17 of title 3 of the United States Code, require that any objection be presented in writing and signed by a Member of the House of Representatives and a Senator.
Is the objection in writing and signed by a Member and a Senator?
Mr. Brooks of Alabama. Mr. President, it is in writing, but, unfortunately, no United States Senator has joined in this effort.
The Vice President. In that case, the objection cannot be entertained.
Are there any further objections to counting the certificate of vote from the State of Nevada that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. This certificate from New Hampshire, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of electoral vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of New Hampshire seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 4 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 4 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of New Hampshire that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. This certificate from New Jersey, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority in the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of New Jersey seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 14 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 14 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of New Jersey that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. This certificate from New Mexico, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of New Mexico seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 5 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 5 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of New Mexico that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from New York, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of New York seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 29 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 29 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote from the State of New York that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from North Carolina, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
□ 0010
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of North Carolina seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 15 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 15 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of North Carolina that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from North Dakota, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State, and purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of North Dakota seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 3 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of North Dakota that the teller has verified as regular and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, the certificate from Ohio, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State, and purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Ohio seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 18 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 18 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Ohio that the teller has verified is regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Oklahoma, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State, and purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Oklahoma seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 7 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 7 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Oklahoma that the teller has verified to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Oregon, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has a certificate of authority from the State annexed to it to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Oregon seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 7 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 7 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Oregon that the teller has verified as regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 20 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 20 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. For what purpose does the gentleman from Pennsylvania rise?
Mr. Perry. Mr. President, sadly, but resolutely, I object to the electoral votes of my beloved Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the grounds of multiple constitutional infractions that they were not under all of the known circumstances regularly given; and on this occasion, I have a written objection signed by a Senator and 80 Members of the House of Representatives.
The Vice President. Is the objection in writing and signed by a Senator?
Mr. Perry. Yes, Mr. Vice President, it is.
The Vice President. An objection presented in writing and signed by both a Representative and a Senator complies with the law, chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code.
The Clerk will report the objection.
The Clerk read the objection as follows:
We, a United States Senator and Members of the House of Representatives, object to the counting of the electoral votes of the State of Pennsylvania on the ground that they were not, under all of the known circumstances, regularly given.
Josh Hawley,
United States Senator.
Scott Perry,
Member of Congress.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Mo Brooks AL–5, Mike Kelly PA–16, John Joyce PA–13, Fred Keller PA–12, Scott Perry PA–10, Glenn Thompson PA–15, Jim Jordan OH–4, Dan Meuser PA–9, Clay Higgins LA–3, Tom Rice SC–7, Yvette Herrell NM–2, Alexander Mooney WV–2, Andy Biggs AZ–5, John W. Rose TN–6, W. Greg Steube FL–17, Madison Cawthorn NC–11, Bill Posey FL–8, Jeff Duncan SC–3, Brian Babin TX–36, Louie Gohmert TX–1.
Brian J. Mast FL–18, Warren Davidson OH–8, Andy Harris MD–1, Doug Lamborn CO–5, Kat Cammack FL–3, Tracey Mann KS–1, Bob Good VA–5, Adrian Smith NE–3, Billy Long MO–7, Jack Bergman MI–1, Michael Cloud TX–27, Byron Donalds FL–19, Rick Crawford AR–1, Roger Williams TX–25, Bob Gibbs OH–7, Russ Fulcher ID–1, Richard Hudson NC–8, Ted Budd NC–13, Barry Moore AL–2, Lee Zeldin NY–1.
Jake LaTurner KS–2, David Rouzer NC–7, Jason Smith MO–8, Lauren Boebert CO–3, Paul A. Gosar AZ–4, Chuck Fleischmann TN–3, Tim Burchett TN–2, Chris Jacobs NY–27, Bill Johnson OH–6, Andrew S. Clyde GA–9, Lance Gooden TX–5, Randy Feenstra IA–4, Mary E. Miller IL–15, Diana Harshbarger TN–1, Mark E. Green TN–7, Ron Estes KS–4, Neal Dunn FL–2, Ronny Jackson TX–13, Elise Stefanik NY–21, Ralph Norman SC–5.
Joe Wilson SC–2, Vicky Hartzler MO–4, Scott DesJarlais TN–4, Marjorie Taylor Greene GA–14, Doug LaMalfa CA–1, Jeff Van Drew NJ–2, Ben Cline VA–6, Michael D. Rogers AL–3, Markwayne Mullin OK–2, Jeff Duncan SC–3, Pat Fallon TX–4, Brad R. Wenstrup OH–2, August Pfluger TX–11, Rob Wittman VA–1, Scott Franklin FL–15, David Kustoff TN–8, Sam Graves MO–6, Matt Gaetz FL–1, Randy K. Weber TX–14.
The Vice President. Are there further objections to the certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. The Chair hears none.
The two Houses will withdraw from joint session. Each House will deliberate separately on the pending objection and report its decision back to the joint session.
The Senate will now retire to its Chamber.
The Senate retired to its Chamber.
The Speaker. All time for debate has expired.
The question is, Shall the objection submitted by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley) be agreed to.
The question was taken; and the Speaker announced that the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The Speaker. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Members are reminded to vote when their group is called and to leave the Chamber after they have voted.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were—yeas 138, nays 282, not voting 11, as follows:
[Roll No. 11]
YEAS—138
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NAYS—282
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NOT VOTING—11
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Ms. Clarke of New York changed her vote from “yea” to “nay.”
So the objection was not agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The Speaker. The Clerk will now notify the Senate of the action of the House, informing that body that the House is now ready to proceed in joint session with the further counting of the electoral vote for the President and Vice President.
FURTHER MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
A further message from the Senate by Ms. Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that the Secretary of the Senate shall inform the House of Representatives that the Senate is ready to proceed in joint session with the further counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President.
(By unanimous consent, Mr. Hoyer was allowed to speak out of order.)
□ 0322
At 3:22 a.m., the Sergeant at Arms, Paul D. Irving, announced the Vice President and the Senate of the United States.
The Senate entered the Hall of the House of Representatives, headed by the Vice President and the Secretary of the Senate, the Members and officers of the House rising to receive them.
The Vice President took his seat as the Presiding Officer of the joint convention of the two Houses, the Speaker of the House occupying the chair on his left. Senators took seats to the right of the rostrum as prescribed by law.
The Vice President. The joint session of Congress to count the electoral vote will resume. The tellers will take their chairs.
The two Houses retired to consider separately and decide upon the vote of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to which an objection has been filed.
The Secretary of the Senate will report the action of the Senate.
The Secretary of the Senate read the order of the Senate, as follows:
Ordered, That the Senate by a vote of 7 ayes to 92 nays rejects the objection to the electoral votes cast in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Joseph R. Biden, Jr., for President and Kamala D. Harris for Vice President.
The Vice President. The Clerk of the House will report the action of the House.
The Clerk of the House read the order of the House, as follows:
Ordered, That the House of Representatives rejects the objection to the electoral vote of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Vice President. Pursuant to the law, chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, because the two Houses have not sustained the objection, the original certificate submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be counted as provided therein.
The tellers will now record and announce the vote of the State of Rhode Island for President and Vice President in accordance with the action of the two Houses.
This certificate from Rhode Island, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Rhode Island seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 4 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 4 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of Rhode Island that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from South Carolina, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of South Carolina seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 9 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 9 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of South Carolina that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from South Dakota, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate from an authority of that State purporting to appoint and ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of South Dakota seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 3 votes for President and Michal R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of vote of the State of South Dakota that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
□ 0330
The Vice President. This certificate from Tennessee, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of electoral vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of that State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Tennessee seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 11 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 11 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote of the State of Tennessee that the teller has verified as regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Texas, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority of that State that purports to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Texas seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 38 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 38 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote of the State of Texas that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Utah, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Utah seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 6 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 6 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote of the State of Utah that the teller has verified to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Vermont, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from the State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from that State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Vermont seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 3 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote of the State of Vermont that the teller has verified as regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from that same State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the Commonwealth of Virginia seems to be in regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 13 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 13 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote of the Commonwealth of Virginia that the teller has verified as appearing regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Washington, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has a certificate of an authority from the same State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Klobuchar. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Washington seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 12 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 12 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote of the State of Washington that the teller has verified and appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from West Virginia, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of West Virginia seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 5 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 5 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting the certificate of the vote for the State of West Virginia that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, this certificate from Wisconsin, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate from that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a certificate of an authority from the State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Ms. Lofgren. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Wisconsin seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware received 10 votes for President and Kamala D. Harris of the State of California received 10 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. For what purpose does the gentleman from Texas rise?
Mr. Gohmert. Mr. President, I object to the electoral votes of the State of Wisconsin because 71 House Members, all of who condemn violence as we witnessed today, are firmly committed to the resolution of disagreements in civil, lawful, peaceful institutions with full and fair debate, free of violence. And though not a single court has allowed an evidentiary hearing to listen to the significant body of evidence of fraud, and though some seize on the court’s failure to misrepresent that no court would listen to the evidence as saying evidence did not exist; while Democrat leaders in Milwaukee illegally and unconstitutionally created more than 200 illegal polling places; tens of thousands of votes were changed by workers, despite election workers’ objections, plus so many other illegalities to fraudulently create a 20,000-vote lead, we object, along with a Senator who now has withdrawn his objection.
The Vice President. Sections 15 and 17 of title 3 of the United States Code require that any objection be presented in writing, signed by a Member of the House of Representatives and a Senator.
Is the objection in writing and signed by a Member and a Senator?
Mr. Gohmert. It is in writing. It is signed by a Member, but it is not signed and objected to by a Senator, Mr. President.
The Vice President. In that case, the objection cannot be entertained.
This certificate from Wyoming, the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State and purports to be a return from the State and has annexed to it the certificate of an authority from the same State purporting to appoint or ascertain electors.
Senator Blunt. Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Wyoming seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received 3 votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana received 3 votes for Vice President.
The Vice President. Are there any objections to counting a certificate of the vote of the State of Wyoming that the teller has verified appears to be regular in form and authentic?
There was no objection.
The Vice President. Hearing none, the Chair advises Members of Congress the certificates having been read, the tellers will ascertain and deliver the result to the President of the Senate.
Senator Klobuchar. The undersigned, Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar, tellers on the part of the Senate; Zoe Lofgren and Rodney Davis, tellers on the part of the House of Representatives, report the following as the result of the ascertainment and counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States for the term beginning on the 20th day of January, 2021. The report we make is that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be the President and the Vice President, according to the ballots that have been given to us.
The tellers delivered to the President of the Senate the following statement of results:
JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS FOR THE COUNTING OF THE ELECTORAL VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES—OFFICIAL TALLY
| Electoral votes of each State |
For President | For Vice President | ||
| Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |
Donald J. Trump |
Kamala D. Harris |
Michael R. Pence | |
| Alabama—9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Alaska—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Arizona—11 | 11 | 11 | ||
| Arkansas—6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| California—55 | 55 | 55 | ||
| Colorado—9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Connecticut—7 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Delaware—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| District of Colombia—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Florida—29 | 29 | 29 | ||
| Georgia—16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Hawaii—4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Idaho—4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Illinois—20 | 20 | 20 | ||
| Indiana—11 | 11 | 11 | ||
| Iowa—6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Kansas—6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Kentucky—8 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Louisiana—8 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Maine—4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Maryland—10 | 10 | 10 | ||
| Massachusetts—11 | 11 | 11 | ||
| Michigan—16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Minnesota—10 | 10 | 10 | ||
| Mississippi—6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Missouri—10 | 10 | 10 | ||
| Montana—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Nebraska—5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Nevada—6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| New Hampshire—4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| New Jersey—14 | 14 | 14 | ||
| New Mexico—5 | 5 | 5 | ||
| New York—29 | 29 | 29 | ||
| North Carolina—15 | 15 | 15 | ||
| North Dakota—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Ohio—18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Oklahoma—7 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Oregon—7 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Pennsylvania—20 | 20 | 20 | ||
| Rhode Island—4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| South Carolina—9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| South Dakota—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Tennessee—11 | 11 | 11 | ||
| Texas—38 | 38 | 38 | ||
| Utah—6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Vermont—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Virginia—13 | 13 | 13 | ||
| Washington—12 | 12 | 12 | ||
| West Virginia—5 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Wisconsin—10 | 10 | 10 | ||
| Wyoming—3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Total—538 | 306 | 232 | 306 | 232 |
Roy Blunt,
Amy Klobuchar,
Tellers on the part of the Senate.
Zoe Lofgren,
Rodney Davis,
Tellers on the part of the House of Representatives.
The Vice President. The state of the vote for President of the United States, as delivered to the President of the Senate, is as follows:
The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for President of the United States is 538, of which a majority is 270.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the state of Delaware, has received for President of the United States 306 votes;
Donald J. Trump, of the state of Florida, has received 232 votes;
The state of the vote for Vice President of the United States, as delivered to the President of the Senate, is as follows:
The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for Vice President of the United States is 538, of which a majority is 270.
Kamala D. Harris, of the state of California, has received for Vice President of the United States 306 votes;
Michael R. Pence, of the state of Indiana, has received 232 votes.
This announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning on the twentieth day of January, two thousand and twenty one, and shall be entered, together with the list of the votes, on the Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives.
□ 0340
The Vice President. The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for President of the United States is 538, of which a majority is 270.
The votes for President of the United States are as follows:
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the state of Delaware, has received for President of the United States 306 votes.
Donald J. Trump, of the state of Florida, has received 232 votes.
The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for Vice President of the United States is 538, of which a majority is 270.
The votes for Vice President of the United States are as follows:
Kamala D. Harris, of the state of California, has received for Vice President of the United States 306 votes.
Michael R. Pence, of the state of Indiana, has received 232 votes.
This announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning on the twentieth day of January, two thousand and twenty one, and shall be entered, together with the list of the votes, on the Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The Chair now recognizes for the purpose of a closing prayer the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate, Chaplain Barry C. Black.
Chaplain Black. Lord of our lives and sovereign of our beloved Nation, we deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol Building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy.
These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue. We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom’s price.
Lord, You have helped us remember that we need to see in each other a common humanity that reflects Your image. You have strengthened our resolve to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies domestic, as well as foreign.
Use us to bring healing and unity to a hurting and divided Nation and world. Thank You for what You have blessed our lawmakers to accomplish in spite of threats to liberty.
Bless and keep us. Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to do Your will, and guide our feet on the path of peace. And God bless America. We pray in Your sovereign name.
Amen.
The Vice President. The purpose of the joint session having concluded, pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1, 117th Congress, the Chair declares the joint session dissolved.
(Thereupon, at 3 o’clock and 44 minutes a.m., the joint session of the two Houses of Congress was dissolved.)
The Speaker pro tempore (Ms. Jackson Lee). Pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1, the electoral vote will be spread at large upon the Journal.
ADJOURNMENT
The Speaker pro tempore. Pursuant to section 5(a)(1)(B) of House Resolution 8, the House stands adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, January 11, 2021.
Thereupon (at 3 o’clock and 48 minutes a.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Monday, January 11, 2021, at 11 a.m.