Joint Session of Congress Formally Certifies Pres. Obama's Re-Election

Washington, DC
Friday, January 4, 2013

On Friday, a Joint Session of Congress convened to count the electoral votes. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden each received 332 electoral votes and were officially re-elected to office.
Republicans Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan each received 206 votes. A majority of 270 electoral votes are required to elect a President and Vice President.
Federal Law mandates that this be done on Jan. 6, following an election, but Congress passed a law allowing it to happen on Jan. 4 this year, since the 6th is a Sunday.
Vice President Joe Biden presided over the counting, which took place in the House chamber. The ballots from the electoral college were sealed until they were officially counted today.

Updated: Saturday at 9:59am (ET)