The Ceremonial Role of Vice Presidents: A Historical Recap of Electoral Certifications

As the 2024 election campaign comes to a close, several states have already announced that they will likely not know the official results until a few days after November 5th. Nonetheless, the electoral certification is scheduled for January 6th, 2025, where Kamala Harris will play a ceremonial yet crucial role in certifying her own fate in an election in which she was on the ticket. This election has been highly contentious, and following the previous election's lawsuits initiated by former President Donald Trump's campaign, there is ongoing controversy regarding whether Kamala Harris will contest the results if she loses, similar to Trump's attempts in 2020..The Vice President's Role in Electoral CertificationMike Pence's certification was significant, as he was the latest sitting Vice President who certified his fate, expelling him and Trump from American Government starting on January 20th, 2021. In this election, Kamala Harris will determine her own fate, win or lose, and whether she gets fired or promoted by the American people. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling on the certification process, dismissing a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, that sought to compel electors to change their votes.On Dec. 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed S. 4573, which reformed the Electoral Count Act (ECA) into governing law. The new provisions clarify that the vice president's role in the process is purely ceremonial, with no authority to influence the determination of the actual election winner. Time after time, the electoral process has stood, and no matter the results of the election, Kamala Harris will join several other vice presidents in history as she certifies the election.Historical Timeline1797: John Adams – As vice president, he certified his own electoral victory, transitioning to the presidency.1801: Thomas Jefferson – As vice president, he certified the electoral votes for the 1800 election, which led to his election as president after a tie-breaking decision in the House of Representatives.1837: Martin Van Buren – As vice president, Van Buren certified the electoral votes for the 1836 election, confirming his victory as president.1865: Hannibal Hamlin – As president under Abraham Lincoln, Hamlin certified the electoral vote confirming his own loss, as Andrew Johnson was elected vice president for Lincoln’s second term.1961: Richard Nixon – As vice president, Nixon certified the electoral vote that confirmed his loss to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election.1969: Hubert Humphrey – As outgoing vice president under Lyndon B. Johnson, Humphrey did not personally preside over the certification due to being abroad, but his loss to Richard Nixon in the 1968 election was certified in his absence.1981: Walter Mondale – As vice president, Mondale certified the electoral vote that confirmed his and President Jimmy Carter’s loss to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the 1980 election.1989: George H.W. Bush – As vice president, Bush certified the electoral vote confirming his victory in the 1988 election, transitioning to the presidency.2001: Al Gore – As vice president, Gore certified the electoral vote that confirmed his own loss to George W. Bush in the highly contested 2000 election.2021: Mike Pence – As vice president, Pence certified the electoral vote that confirmed his and Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 election..Regardless of the outcome, Kamala Harris will find herself among historic figures, and the implementation of the new law is anticipated to reduce controversy. As voters consider the contentious nature of the election, the possibility of disputes following the certification serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining democratic processes and ensuring a peaceful transition of power, which stands as a beacon for democratic ideals worldwide.