US elections: why this week is crucial

The race for the US presidency continues to play overtime.

If the checkered flag is getting closer for Joe Biden, he hasn't crossed it yet.

Blame it on President Donald Trump and his Republican allies who are increasing the number of appeals as the dates for certification of the result approach, a major step to formalize the victory of the "elected" president.

Update on the decisive calendar for the next eight days across the Atlantic.

Georgia: Friday November 20 (3rd recount in progress)

Joe Biden's election was certified in Georgia on Friday.

The initial count only gave the Democrat some 14,000 votes ahead of rival Donald Trump, a gap so narrow that a hand recount took place.

The gap has narrowed slightly, now just over 12,200 votes ahead for Joe Biden.

The difference between the two candidates is still very thin, President Donald Trump, who disputes his defeat, can however request a new recount, said a statement from the office of the Secretary of State of Georgia, in charge of the organization of the elections. .

Pennsylvania: Monday, November 23

This Monday is the deadline for Pennsylvania counties to certify their electoral totals and send them to dedicated state departments, which will certify the results.

Pennsylvania does not have a specific deadline for signing the certification but there is no reason to expect a delay according to the New York Times.

Michigan: Monday, November 23

In Michigan, the Board of State Canvassers has scheduled a meeting this Monday as well to review and certify results previously certified by the survey offices in each county.

Despite Republican protests over Wayne County, which includes Detroit, the state is expected to certify the results on schedule.

More than astonishingly, Donald Trump invited Michigan Republican lawmakers to the White House on Friday, to urge them not to certify the results, and to appoint a list of pro-Trump high-voter candidates to the Electoral College.

The exact opposite of the result in this "battleground state" where Joe Biden has nearly 154,000 votes ahead.

We repeated it yesterday but a lot will be played tomorrow at #Michigan.

If @jaketapper's information is correct, it is likely that the 2 republicans of the "canvassers" office will refuse to certify the results, giving, out of all justice, THE symbolic victory desired by #Trump.

RT + https://t.co/4Ey1KhV0aw

- Corentin Sellin (@CorentinSellin) November 22, 2020

If the two Republican representatives acceded to the billionaire's request, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Democrat, could then certify a separate list of voters favorable to Joe Biden.

It would then be up to Congress to choose between the two lists, and US electoral process experts say federal law would favor the governor's list, including in the event of a partisan tie in Congress.

Congress could also, in theory, reject Michigan's electoral votes altogether - in which case Joe Biden would still win the Electoral College even without the 16 votes in the northern state.

The calendar of certifications State by State./LP/Infography  

Arizona: Monday, November 30

The Arizona Republican Party has asked a court to postpone certification in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, but a judge denied the request last Thursday.

The counties should therefore be certified on time and Katie Hobbs, the Democratic Secretary of State, should approve the final statewide certification to date.

Wisconsin: Tuesday, December 1

It's the deadline for Wisconsin to certify its results.

Wisconsin has already officially completed county-level certification, but the Trump campaign is seeking a partial recount which, if continued, should however be completed before the deadline and should not change the results significantly.

The recounts in Milwaukee and Dane counties began on Friday but the difference is too large between the two candidates for that to change the result.

Once the recount is complete, the Wisconsin Election Commission will meet to certify the results statewide.

And after ?

Then, the classic process will resume its rights with the designation of the list of grand voters on December 8, and the solemn vote of the Electoral College on December 14.

On January 6, Congress will validate the result of the vote and on January 20 Joe Biden should therefore be inducted as the 46th President of the United States of America.

Donald Trump may have during that time never conceded his defeat ...