US Election Certification to Enhance Security Following 2021 Attack, Reports Reuters

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government is ramping up security measures for the upcoming congressional certification of the November 5 election results, scheduled for January 6, in an effort to prevent a repeat of the Capitol attack that occurred in 2021 by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated. The Department of Homeland Security has classified the congressional certification as a “national special security event,” as stated by the Secret Service. This election sees Republican presidential candidate Trump facing off against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, in what polls indicate is a competitive race.

This designation enables federal, state, and local resources to be allocated specifically for the security operations surrounding the event, with the Secret Service taking the lead on the security strategy. The decision for this heightened security measures comes after recommendations from a congressional investigation and a watchdog review related to the 2021 Capitol riots.

In context, it’s important to note that Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, yet he falsely proclaimed victory and urged Congress for weeks not to certify the election result. On January 6, 2021, his supporters stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful effort to disrupt the certification of Biden’s win. Trump’s actions are currently under investigation, and he has been indicted on charges related to attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.