To the Editor:
The election isn’t over until the Constitutional requirements are met. Regardless of whether or not either candidate concedes or claims victory, the election can be contested by either side up to and including Jan. 6, 2021 when a joint session of Congress, chaired by the vice president, is convened to count and record the electoral vote. (The newly elected House and Senate, sworn in on Jan. 3, 2021, make up the joint Congress) The electoral votes are read and recorded state by state, alphabetically. If at least one senator and one representative from their state submits a written objection to their states vote, it can compel the joint session to recess and retire to their respective chambers to address the objection. They are allowed two hours and then must return with a vote. If the Senate and House agree, the objection is accepted. If they do not agree, the original electoral vote is accepted and the count continues until this process is completed. In the unlikely event that the completed process does not decide the election, it goes to the next step. The House of Representatives selects the next president by a state delegate vote of one per state, 26 representing a majority, from a choice of the top three candidates for president. After that, the Senate votes a simple majority choice from the top two vice presidential candidates. If this is not resolved by inauguration day, the current vice president serves as temporary president until the House decision is completed. (www.archives-gov/electoral-college)
Robert Moore
Village of Rio Grande
