Electoral College votes for Biden-Harris

TOLYMPIA – On Monday, Dec. 14, Secretary of State Kim Wyman presided over Washington’s 2020 Electoral College. The state’s 12 electors cast ballots for Joseph R. Biden for president and Kamala D. Harris for vice president, both of whom won the popular vote in the Nov. 3 General Election. The Electoral College vote was held in the Legislative building in Olympia, which is not open to the public. To ensure public health and safety, and in adherence to health guidelines, attendance was limited to the electors and alternates and authorized persons. TVW broadcast the ceremony live and online.

As set forth in the U.S. Constitution, the number of electors allocated to each state reflects the state’s Congressional delegation. With two U.S. Senators and 10 U.S. Representatives, Washington is awarded 12 electoral votes. The nominees for president and vice president who received the majority of Washington’s popular vote in the General Election receive all 12 of the state’s electoral votes.

With 2,369,612 votes (or 57.97%) for the Biden/Harris ticket vs. 1,584,651 (or 38.77%) for Donald Trump and Mike Pence, Washington voters elected the Democratic Party electors. They are Martin Chaney, Jack Arends, Jackie Lane, Patricia Whitefoot, Nancy Monacelli, Julie Johnson, Sophia Danenberg, Jen Carter, Bryan Kesterson, Julian Wheeler, Santiago Ramos and Payton Swinford. Each elector signed a pledge to vote for the nominee of the party they represent.

After the roll call of electors, ballots were cast and then presented to Secretary Wyman, who signed and certified the results. The certificates of the vote will then be delivered to the President of the U.S. Senate, who will officially count the electoral votes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia on Jan. 6, 2021.

Secretary Wyman calls in Homeland Security and FBI

The Office of the Secretary of State over the weekend was made aware of a website that lists Washington state’s elections director among election officials nationwide who the site creators claim “have aided and abetted the fraudulent election against Trump.” The site includes images of the officials, with crosshairs over their profiles, and home and email addresses. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have been notified, as well as the Fusion Center in Washington state.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman said, “This continued escalation of harassing and threatening behavior in the public sphere has to stop. Sites like this are appalling and have no place in our democracy and the peaceful transition of power. Washington’s 39 county election officials rose to the challenge, working tirelessly to accurately count more ballots than this state has ever seen and ensure that our election was accessible and secure in spite of the pandemic. Though my office has yet to receive evidence of massive voter fraud, we take accusations of such seriously. When provided evidence, we work closely with county election officials to ensure instances are investigated and a crime is charged.”