Electors in all 50 states, including Idaho and Washington, cast their ballots Monday is what was officially the election for president.
In Boise, the ceremony was held in a legislative committee room and lasted only 15 minutes. The four electors, who included Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin and current Republican Party chair Raul Labrador, cast their ballots for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Afterward, each said a few words, including Ada County Commissioner-elect Rod Beck.
“I don’t think there were any illegal votes in the state of Idaho and I think that’s because of the tremendous job that our election officials did. I was particularly pleased with the special session where you passed legislation that allowed the clerks to start tabulating the absentee votes. That made it efficient. They could get it done fast," Beck said.
In Olympia, the 50-minute meeting in the state Senate chambers had a bit more feeling. Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman choked up as she described the solemn purpose of the meeting. The 12 electors used ceremonial quills with feathers to mark their ballots and Wyman read the results.
“For the office of president of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, 12 votes, and for the office of Vice President of the United States, Kamala D. Harris, 12 votes," she said.
“It’s an honor to be here. It’s the honor of a lifetime. Only in America can an immigrant like myself become part of the Electoral College," said Santiago Ramos, one of the electors who spoke briefly about being part of such an historic event.
“As we’ve been doing these presentations, we have been circulating six copies of the documents that will certify the results of your votes here today," Wyman said. One will go to the president of the Senate, AKA the vice president. Two will go the U.S. archivist in Washington, D.C. One will go to the presiding federal judge in Seattle and two will be retained by Wyman's office.
Congress is expected to count the electoral votes during a joint session on January 6 and the new president and vice president will be sworn in on January 20.
