How does Congress count electoral votes, and can results be challenged? By Grace Segers, Melissa Quinn December 23, 2020 / 11:24 AM / CBS News McConnell congratulates Biden and Harris President-elect Joe Biden's victory is set to be reaffirmed early next month, when the new Congress convenes in a joint session to count each state's Electoral College votes. Required by the Constitution, the event typically occurs with little fanfare. But the joint session slated for January 6 is already expected to bring heightened drama, as some of President Trump's Republican congressional allies have indicated they plan to challenge the electoral votes in certain states, though these efforts are almost certain to be unsuccessful.