What happens to ensure your vote for president is counted?
Nov 5, 2024
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In this engaging discussion, Jessica Huseman, editorial director of VoteBeat, and Derek Muller, a law professor at Notre Dame, dive into the complex journey your vote takes after casting it. They elucidate the critical processes of vote counting and ballot certification, spotlighting the importance of transparency in maintaining electoral integrity. The conversation also touches on the judiciary's pivotal role in overseeing elections and legal challenges that arose post-2020, revealing the robust systems in place to ensure that every voice is heard and counted.
Canvassing is essential for verifying election results, involving checks for discrepancies and validating provisional ballots to maintain integrity.
Local certification of election results ensures accountability, with legal mechanisms available to resolve disputes and ensure adherence to election laws.
Electors play a crucial role in the electoral process, officially representing voters and following a defined method for documenting and sending their votes.
Deep dives
Understanding the Election Process
The episode delves into the various steps that occur after Election Day leading up to the official counting of the Electoral College votes. It emphasizes the significance of understanding what happens between casting a ballot and the election results, which often generates confusion among voters. Steps such as canvassing, local and state certifications, the meeting of electors, and the Congressional counting process are highlighted to demystify the election cycle. Furthermore, the hosts ensure listeners are aware of critical milestones, encouraging them to stay informed about the election timeline.
The Importance of Canvassing
Canvassing is a critical step following an election where results are verified for accuracy. Election boards assess the vote count from various precincts to ensure integrity, which involves checking for discrepancies and validating provisional ballots. The episode explains that canvassing also includes the 'curing' process for mail-in ballots, which helps rectify issues such as signature mismatches that may otherwise invalidate a vote. This thorough verification process ensures that every eligible vote is considered, underscoring the diligence required in maintaining electoral integrity.
Certification Process and Court Involvement
The local certification of election results needs to be approved by a separate board to ensure accountability and transparency. In cases where local officials may hesitate to certify results, legal mechanisms are in place allowing the courts to intervene. This involves potential lawsuits filed to enforce certification, which can swiftly resolve disputes and ensure adherence to election laws. The episode stresses that numerous checks within the system help reinforce trust in the overall electoral process.
Role of Electors and Electoral College
Electors play a key role in the electoral process, casting votes to officially represent the will of the people following an election. The selection of these electors is based on the winning candidate in each state, with a defined process including the preparation of a certificate of ascertainment. The episode clarifies the method by which these votes are documented and sent to various entities to ensure multiple copies reach Congress. The narrative surrounding potential 'fake electors' is addressed, emphasizing the legal ramifications for improperly submitting votes and highlighting the importance of procedural correctness.
Congressional Counting and the Vice President's Role
The formal counting of the Electoral College votes takes place in Congress, with the Vice President overseeing the process in a ministerial capacity. The episode discusses how objections can be raised regarding the validity of state electors, though these must follow strict legal guidelines. Significant attention is paid to the historical context of previous elections, particularly how the process has been upheld even amidst contention, ensuring that adherence to established laws prevails. The reforms enacted in the Electoral Count Act are also highlighted, indicating a legislative effort to clarify the Vice President's role and streamline electoral procedures.
You voted for president. So what happens to your ballot next? This episode covers EVERYTHING that happens to ensure your vote is verified, all the way up to the official counting of electoral votes in Congress.