The only people who ever questioned the authority of the VP to certify an election were the Democrats in 2020.
A few times in our history, the VP has been on the spot to certify. The biggest one was when Jefferson was VP. There were inconsistencies in the vote - and a number of electors raised concerns. When it came time for certification, Jefferson certified the vote.
At the time, the public couldn't understand why he didn't use his power to invalidate the votes of certain states. Everyone seemed to agree that he had the authority - and he chose to not use it.
Important point of clarification is that Jefferson certified a form reportedly from GA that did not meet the requirements stipulated by the Constitution. The slip simply said: all GA votes for Jefferson. Of course he wasn't going to deny them. Jefferson cheated himself into the White House in 1800.
Here's a good review, surprisingly from The Atlantic before it went to shit
There were also serious questions about shady activity in SC which was expected to be split with at least a few Federalist Electors chosen. Jefferson supporters, Monroe in particular, had been working hard behind the scenes to push states like VA, NC and SC to adopt winner take all general ticket systems. That way they could silence Federalist heavy districts who would have appointed Electors pledged to Adams/Pinckney. It was dirty politics. Ironically, years later both Madison and even Jefferson agreed that the winner take all general ticket systems of appointing presidential Electors was a terrible system. By that point the new 2 party system didn't care. Whichever party got control of a state legislature, pushed through WTA to consolidate power.
The only people who ever questioned the authority of the VP to certify an election were the Democrats in 2020.
A few times in our history, the VP has been on the spot to certify. The biggest one was when Jefferson was VP. There were inconsistencies in the vote - and a number of electors raised concerns. When it came time for certification, Jefferson certified the vote.
At the time, the public couldn't understand why he didn't use his power to invalidate the votes of certain states. Everyone seemed to agree that he had the authority - and he chose to not use it.
Important point of clarification is that Jefferson certified a form reportedly from GA that did not meet the requirements stipulated by the Constitution. The slip simply said: all GA votes for Jefferson. Of course he wasn't going to deny them. Jefferson cheated himself into the White House in 1800.
Here's a good review, surprisingly from The Atlantic before it went to shit
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/03/how-jefferson-counted-himself-in/302888/
There were also serious questions about shady activity in SC which was expected to be split with at least a few Federalist Electors chosen. Jefferson supporters, Monroe in particular, had been working hard behind the scenes to push states like VA, NC and SC to adopt winner take all general ticket systems. That way they could silence Federalist heavy districts who would have appointed Electors pledged to Adams/Pinckney. It was dirty politics. Ironically, years later both Madison and even Jefferson agreed that the winner take all general ticket systems of appointing presidential Electors was a terrible system. By that point the new 2 party system didn't care. Whichever party got control of a state legislature, pushed through WTA to consolidate power.