Today (Wednesday, Jan. 6), the count begins at 1 p.m. ET. You can watch it go down on CNN.
It's January 6, which means it's time to watch the Electoral College certification live updates roll in — or live on TV if you so prefer. The joint session of Congress is counting the Electoral College votes as the final step in the 2020 presidential election. By the end of the day, they will officially declare the winner.
President-Elect Joe Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris won the election with electoral college 306 votes to Donald Trump and Mike Pence's 232 votes.
The Electoral College certification is usually a routine, ceremonial event. But this occasion has already proved controversial, as a number of Republican lawmakers have pledged to challenge the results.
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Since losing the election, President Trump has repeatedly made false claims of voter fraud and election rigging. He has been supported by some Republicans, like those planning on challenging the certifications in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and possibly other states.
Trump has also said that Vice President Pence, who is overseeing the joint session as president of the Senate, can overturn the election results, though neither the Constitution nor law gives him that power. Pence issued a statement today refusing to accede to Trump's demands.
Members of House and Senate will convene in the House chamber at 1 p.m. ET. Pence will open the certificates from each state, in alphabetical order. If both a House member and senator register an objection in writing, the joint session is recessed, and the House and Senate meet separately to debate the issue for up to two hours. Members are allowed up to five minutes each to speak, and then both chambers vote. A simple majority is needed in both chambers for an objection to succeed.
Even if the challenges delay the Electoral College certification, they are not likely to change the final outcome. By the end of the day, Joe Biden will officially be declared the 46th President of the United States.
Here's how to watch the Electoral College certification live updates.
How to watch Electoral College certification live updates with a VPN
No matter where you are in the world, you shouldn't be separated from your preferred means of following the news. If georestrictions are keeping you from watching the Electoral College certification coverage you want, you're not out of luck. With a virtual private network, or VPN, you can appear to be surfing the web from your home town (or somewhere that blackouts won't hit), and access the same streaming services you already paid for.
Not sure which VPN is right for you? We've tested many different services and our pick for the best VPN overall is ExpressVPN. It offers superb speeds and excellent customer service. But you've got other VPN options as well. Here are our top picks.
How to watch Electoral College certification live updates on CNN
CNN's coverage of the Electoral College certification starts Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. ET. The joint session begins at 1 p.m. ET.
Viewers can also follow along on CNN's apps for iOS and Android, and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast and Android TV. Coverage is also available on CNN.com.
If you've cut the cord, it's easy to get the CNN channel. It's available on two of the best streaming services: Sling TV and FuboTV.
Fubo has a 7-day free trial, and its $65 per month package has 120-plus channels, and that's before you add on regional sports networks.
How to watch Electoral College certification live updates on Fox News
Fox News is available on Sling TV, but only on Sling Blue. FuboTV also has Fox News. As mentioned above, both have free trials, but Fubo's seven-day trial is more than twice as long as Sling's three-day trial.
How to watch Electoral College certification live updates on MSNBC
Over on MSNBC, coverage of the Electoral College certification continues throughout the day, and you can access the channel through these services.
How to watch Electoral College certification live updates on C-SPAN
C-SPAN isn't carried by most live TV services. The only one that does is AT&T TV Now, which we don't recommend.
The cheaper and easier way to watch C-SPAN's coverage of the Electoral College certification is online at their YouTube channel or website.
How to watch Electoral College certification live updates for free
Own a Roku? You can get all the free Electoral College certification live updates you could need from The Roku Channel. ABC News Live, NBC News NOW and Newsy are among the channels in the streamer's free offerings.
Alternatively, your local broadcast networks may be available for free, online via Locast. Its reach isn't as far as the above streaming services, though, serving 45.6% of the U.S. population, though that does reach over 148 million people. You can get ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS through Locast, and their broadcasts begin at 6 p.m. ET.
