What Time Will Trump’s Presidential Election Win Be Certified?

President-elect Donald Trump’s win in November’s presidential election will be formally certified by Congress on Monday.

The event coincides with the fourth anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot and winter storm Blair is forecast to bring heavy snow to Washington, D.C., for the day.

Newsweek reached out to the Trump transition team via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The last time the formal certification occurred on January 6, 2021, hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s win.

The occasion is expected to be less eventful this year, but federal law enforcement will be on heightened alert during the proceedings.

What Does It Mean To Certify An Election?

The election certification process is when the results are formally signed as accurate and true. It is the final step in confirming the outcome of a presidential election.

Federal law states that Congress must gather on January 6 to certify the election results, two weeks before a president is inaugurated.

It is the last official chance for objections beyond any challenges in court. As Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate in 2024, conceded the election and has never disputed Trump’s win, it seems unlikely any objections will be raised.

What Time Will The Election Be Certified?

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the joint session will occur at 1 p.m. EST, NBC News reported.

Johnson reportedly wrote to his colleagues over the weekend: “The Electoral Count Act requires this on January 6, at 1 p.m., so whether we’re in a blizzard or not, we’re going to be in that chamber making sure this is done.”

A winter storm has caused significant disruption across the country, with some local governments declaring states of emergency.

Who Certifies Presidential Election Results?

The votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes, and bipartisan representatives of both chambers read the results out loud and make an official count.

As president of the Senate, the vice president presides over the session and declares the winner. This means that Harris will be running the session on Monday.

The U.S. Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes, and if there is a tie, the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote.

The House hasn’t had to decide the presidency since the 1800s. As Trump’s electoral victory over Harris was decisive at 312 to 226, it won’t be necessary this time.

What People Are Saying

Vice President Kamala Harris, on X: “Today, I will perform my constitutional duty as Vice President to certify the results of the 2024 election. This duty is a sacred obligation — one I will uphold guided by love of country, loyalty to our Constitution, and unwavering faith in the American people.”

President Joe Biden, in an opinion piece for The Washington Post: “We must remember the wisdom of the adage that any nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it. We cannot accept a repeat of what occurred four years ago.

“An unrelenting effort has been underway to rewrite — even erase — the history of that day. To tell us we didn’t see what we all saw with our own eyes. To dismiss concerns about it as some kind of partisan obsession. To explain it away as a protest that just got out of hand. This is not what happened.”

President-elect Donald Trump, on Truth Social: “Congress certifies our great election victory today — a big moment in history. MAGA!”

What’s Next

After the certification is complete, the last step before Trump is officially president again is the inauguration on January 20.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact [email protected].