US election 2020: Can Mike Pence reject Joe Biden’s win?

US President Donald Trump says his vice-president, Mike Pence, has the power to reject the formal confirmation of Joe Biden as the next president.

But this isn’t the case. The vice-president has no legal authority to declare Mr Biden’s election victory invalid.

The Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2021

Once the electoral votes are counted, it will be up to Mr Pence to formally announce Mr Biden as the next US president.

Mr Trump wants the vice-president to step in and reject the results of the election, declaring the vote fraudulent.

If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency. Many States want to decertify the mistake they made in certifying incorrect & even fraudulent numbers in a process NOT approved by their State Legislatures (which it must be). Mike can send it back!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021

The vice-president’s role is largely procedural, as the president of the Senate.

The 12th Amendment of the US Constitution says: “The President of the Senate [in this case, Mike Pence] shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted.”

READ ALSO: Donald Trump gives condition to White House.

Mr Pence has released a statement ahead of the session saying he doesn’t have the power to change the results, and his role is to conduct proceedings “in an orderly manner”.

His will then be required to read out the final presidential result as approved by Congress.