Biden’s Victory Cemented As States Reach Deadline For Certifying Vote Tallies

A supporter of President-elect Joe Biden holds up his mobile phone to display the electoral college map outside the Philadelphia Convention Center after the 2020 presidential election is called on Nov. 7 in Philadelphia.

John Minchillo / AP

It may come and go without much fanfare, but on Tuesday, the U.S. will pass a key deadline cementing President-elect Joe Biden’s victory as the forty-sixth president.

The day, Dec. 8, is known as the “safe harbor” deadline for states to certify their results, to compel Congress to accept those results.

Most Americans see Election Day as the end of the long political season aimed at choosing new federal leadership, but it’s really only the beginning.