State Declares Biden Won Election

The Wisconsin Elections Commission met today and Chairperson Ann Jacobs signed the determination of the presidential election following the recounts in Milwaukee and Dane counties, and shortly after Gov. Tony Evers certified the results.

After the recount, former Vice President Joe Biden picked up 87 votes, beating President Donald Trump by 20,695 votes in the state.

Milwaukee and Dane counties finished their recounts on Friday and Sunday respectively.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission prepares a statement of canvass based upon the certified results from all 72 counties in the state. When Jacobs signed it, the document became “the official state determination of the results of the Nov 3rd, 2020 Election and the Canvass,” she said. The final state canvas gave Biden a 20,682 vote margin.

Canvassing the results and signing a determination of the election are not the same thing as “certifying” election results. The chair of the commission reviews the results of the recount based upon the results certified by the counties and using those numbers signs a determination of the result of the election.

As outlined in state and federal law, the next step in the process is for the signed determination to go to the Governor’s office, who certifies the election and signs off on the presidential electors, who will meet in two weeks and cast their votes for the winning candidate.

In a statement Evers said, “Today I carried out my duty to certify the November 3rd election, and as required by state and federal law, I’ve signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.”

This has always been the process for awarding votes to a presidential candidate, during every election in Wisconsin, regardless of which political party was in power.

It is a formal decision that provides the parties of the recount something to appeal. A statement from the elections commission said the determination “allows President Trump’s campaign to exercise the five-day recount appeal rights” granted under state statute.

The Trump campaign and the president himself have already indicated they will file a lawsuit to challenge the results of the election.

The elections commission will certify the results of all the other contests on the November 3 ballot on Tuesday, December 1st.