Thank you for contacting me regarding the 2020 presidential election. I always appreciate hearing from Tennesseans.

The Constitution sets the requirements for election of the president and vice president. On December 14, 2020, the electors from each state met and certified their respective election results, 306 - 232, in favor of Joseph Biden of Delaware for president and Kamala Harris of California for vice president. Every state certified their electors, and no state submitted two slates of electors.

On January 6, 2021, Congress met in joint session to count and certify the electoral votes from each state. I remain appalled that, as Congress carried out this constitutional process, rioters violently stormed the Capitol and vandalized its chambers, trespassed in offices, and destroyed public property. Roughly six hours later, law enforcement cleared the rioters out of the Capitol, and Congress completed its constitutional duty of counting the certified electoral votes from the states. On January 20, 2021, the country inaugurated Joseph Biden as president of the United States, and Kamala Harris as vice president.

The United States remains the longest-standing democracy in the world because of our commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the peaceful transition of power. Just as Congress fulfilled its constitutional duties, states have a constitutional responsibility to safeguard elections and ensure one person, one vote. I am committed to being certain the states fulfill this responsibility. State legislatures and governors across the country must take this standard seriously and pass laws to protect elections so all Americans can have confidence in the process.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you would like regular updates on my work for Tennessee, please sign up for my weekly newsletter or follow me on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram .

Sincerely,

Marsha Blackburn United States Senator