Special Poll
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) recently stated that she is unaware of any Democrats planning to object to the certification of President-elect Trump’s victory on Monday. Her comments come as this pivotal day brings echoes of the contentious 2020 election certification process.
The certification process, overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris, carries a unique historical weight. Harris will preside over the affirmation of her own loss to President-elect Trump—a man she has openly criticized as a threat to American democracy. This task places her among a small group of vice presidents who have had to certify their electoral defeat in their capacity as president of the Senate.
This year’s certification operates under the newly revised Electoral Count Act, designed to make objections more difficult to raise. The updated law aims to prevent unnecessary delays in the certification process, ensuring that objections require broader support from Congress.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Klobuchar emphasized the importance of the Electoral Count Act in safeguarding the process. “The process allows for objections,” she noted, but pointed out that the new law has raised the threshold of support needed for an objection to 20% of both the House and Senate. Previously, a single member from each chamber could challenge a state’s electors, often prolonging the proceedings.
She reflected on the events of January 6, 2021, when over 140 Republicans objected to certifying Joe Biden’s victory. Klobuchar noted that these objections, coupled with outdated procedural rules, were exploited by insurrectionists attempting to derail the democratic process. The revised act, she explained, is designed to prevent such disruptions by clearly defining the vice president’s role as ceremonial—simply announcing the results rather than influencing them, a point of controversy during the Trump administration’s pressure on then-Vice President Mike Pence.
The strengthened Electoral Count Act is intended to reinforce the integrity of the certification process, ensuring smoother proceedings and reducing opportunities for political or procedural exploitation. Klobuchar’s comments underscore the significance of these changes in protecting the will of the voters and upholding democratic norms.