US President-elect Joe Biden’s win has been certified by the Electoral College, however, state electors faced death threats for doing so.
On December 14, California confirmed Biden’s victory, granting him 55 electoral votes which saw him pass over the required 270 votes to take the White House.
When the counting is complete, it’s expected he’ll lead the ‘lame duck’ POTUS Donald Trump 306 votes to 232.
As state electors faced the task of casting the votes, Trump supporters allegedly issued threats of violence and even death as the president’s baseless legal efforts to overturn the election continue to struggle.
“Due to safety concerns for tomorrow’s Electoral College vote, the entire legislature is closed and will be working remotely. I’m thankful for the courage of our electors who will be exercising their democratic duty and selecting our next president,” Darrin Camilleri, a Michigan Democrat, wrote on Twitter.
In Wisconsin, electors were told to enter the capitol grounds through an unmarked side door in order to avoid violent protesters.
“This is some scary stuff, man, and this is not what America is supposed to be like,” Khary Penebaker, a Democratic elector for the state told The New York Times.
“CNN just reported that three of the ten Joe Biden electors in Wisconsin have been subject to death threats. This is the Fascist movement known as Trumpism!” Radio host and columnist Dean Obeidallah also tweeted.
Arizona’s vote was also held in a secret location due to safety concerns. Some Republican supporters have also held ‘alternative electoral votes’ which have been sent to Congress, however, these carry absolutely no power as alternate electors are meaningless in law.
Joe Biden described the harassment of his officials as ‘unconscionable’.
“It’s my sincere hope we never again see anyone subjected to the kind of threats and abuse we saw in this election,” Biden said. “The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we know that nothing, not even a pandemic or an abuse of power can extinguish that flame.”