Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the January 6th certification of the 2024 presidential election results, a process mandated by federal law. In her role as President of the Senate, she will oversee the joint session of Congress where the electoral votes from each state are formally counted and the winner declared. This ceremonial duty, described by Harris in a social media video as a “sacred obligation,” underscores the peaceful transfer of power, a cornerstone of American democracy. She emphasized the fragility of democracy and the importance of upholding its principles.
Harris’s participation in this process places her among a small number of Vice Presidents who have overseen the certification of their own electoral defeat. This includes Richard Nixon in 1960 following his loss to John F. Kennedy, and Al Gore in 2000 after the Supreme Court decision awarded the presidency to George W. Bush. In her concession speech, Harris reiterated her commitment to accepting the election results, highlighting the fundamental distinction between democratic principles and autocratic rule. She stated, “A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny.”
On Monday, the process will involve the opening of sealed certificates containing each state’s electoral votes. These results will be read aloud, tallied, and officially declared by Vice President Harris, formally announcing the winner of the 2024 presidential election.