Washington — As Congress convenes to count the Electoral College votes on January 6, 2025, the atmosphere is markedly different from the tumultuous events of four years prior, when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol following the presidential election. A significant factor contributing to this shift is the Electoral Count Reform Act, which was passed in 2022 in direct response to the challenges that arose during the certification of votes post-2020 election. This act aims to prevent similar chaos and bolster the integrity of the electoral process.

The Electoral Count Reform Act modifies procedures related to counting electoral votes and clarifies the role of the vice president during this critical process. "The bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 will help ensure future transitions proceed smoothly and honor the will of the voters," stated Holly Idelson, a policy strategist at Protect Democracy, underscoring the act’s intent to avert ambiguities that previous actors exploited to create chaos in the electoral process.

This year's joint session will be presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris, who, similar to Donald Trump four years ago, will confirm the outcome of the electoral vote count. However, the session on January 6, 2025, is expected to proceed without incident. The newly implemented measures mean that Democrats do not plan any protests or disruptions during the counting of votes.

Previously, the vice president held significant power over the proceedings, but the new law clearly limits this role to “performing solely ministerial duties.” In practice, this means Harris will not have the authority to accept or reject electors’ votes. This limitation echoes the sentiments expressed by former Vice President Mike Pence, who emphasized that the Constitution did not grant him the authority to alter the electoral vote results, a principle now reinforced by the Electoral Count Reform Act.

The law also revises how objections to a state’s electoral votes can be raised. Under the new provisions, any objection must be submitted in writing and signed by at least one-fifth of both the Senate and House members, setting a higher bar than in past sessions where only one member from each chamber could raise concerns. The criteria for such objections have also been narrowed to specific circumstances, which are when electors are not duly certified or when the votes of at least one elector were not correctly given.

The overall process for confirming Trump’s election victory on January 6 will begin with the House of Representatives and the Senate meeting at 1 p.m. ET. During this time, the two chambers will tally the electoral votes cast on December 17, when electors statewide met to cast their votes for the presidential candidates.

Reflecting on the tensions from previous years, it’s important to note that very few objections are anticipated this time around. The changes implemented by the Electoral Count Reform Act have lessened opportunities for disputes, making it significantly more challenging for dissenting lawmakers to disrupt the process. The act aims to reinforce the fundamental principle of a peaceful and orderly transition of power.

To summarize the procedural adjustments, any potential objection must be properly submitted before the proceedings move on to subsequent states’ electoral votes. In the event of discord, the joint session would temporarily reconvene for deliberations, but with the elevated criteria set by the Electoral Count Reform Act, the likelihood of prolonged debates similar to those seen in the 2021 riots is greatly diminished. With the safeguards now in place, Congress can proceed with the Electoral College vote count in a stable and orderly manner.

For a deeper understanding of these changes and their implications, check the full articles at CBS News and CNN.