Battleground States Certify Election Results

A month has now passed since Election Day 2020, and the states are only now completing the official results certification. (This certification verifies the final vote tallies.) This final certification totals the unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballots. In some states, ballot recounts are required because of the narrow difference in vote totals. Numerous court cases have been filed by the Trump campaign, by the Republican National Committee (RNC), and by many private individuals to stop the certifications because of alleged irregularities in the voting process. These legal challenges have not succeed.

So where do things stand as the final deadline for voting certification approaches next week? Here, Election Central looks at some key developments.

Michigan

Monday, November 30, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers certified the state’s election results. One of the board’s four members abstained from voting, claiming that Michigan doesn’t have fair Republican representation among its poll workers. This decision followed weeks of legal battles with the Trump campaign, which accused the state of widespread voter fraud. Most of those cases have since been dismissed or withdrawn. Biden won the battleground state by more than 155,000 votes, and as a result, will receive Michigan’s sixteen electoral votes.

Pennsylvania

On Tuesday, December 1, Pennsylvania certified its election results, with the governor signing off on its twenty electors. Pennsylvania is the focus of intense legal battles brought on by the Trump campaign. Most recently, a lawsuit by Republican Rep. Mike Kelly attempted to have all mail-in voting declared unconstitutional. The Supreme Court rejected this latest challenge. Biden has a vote total lead of over 81,000 votes.

California

While not considered a battleground state, California’s election results weren’t certified until December 4 because more voters live in California than in any other U.S. state. There are simply more votes to count there than anywhere else. California has also adopted laws such as permanent absentee voting and allowing mail-in ballots to be received as late as Election Night. The certification of California’s 55 electoral votes for Biden is key to his electoral college majority.

So Where Do Things Stand Now?

Now that California has certified its election results, Biden has 288 electoral votes, while Trump has 222. (A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.) New Jersey, Colorado, and Hawaii still have not certified their results. On December 14, the electors of each state will meet to officially cast their ballots in the Electoral College.

It is possible that there could be a “faithless elector” a member of the Electoral College who casts his or her ballot for a candidate other than the one who won their state. But a recent Supreme Court decision allows states to penalize or remove faithless electors if they choose. Regardless, dozens of electors would have to become “faithless” to change the outcome of the election.

Dig Deeper New Jersey, Colorado, and Hawaii have not yet certified their election results. Imagine that all three of these states certify Trump as the  in their state. Would this give Trump enough electoral votes to win? Explain.