The certification of electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election will take place on January 6, 2025, and will be designated as a national special security event. This decision was made by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas following a request from Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser. The US Secret Service will be responsible for managing the security operations for this event, which will have a heightened level of security, including more officers on the ground, broader security perimeters, and the use of technology to detect potential threats.
National special security events, such as the Super Bowl and presidential inaugurations, require a significant level of security. In addition to the Secret Service, the FBI will also be involved in monitoring for any threats leading up to the event in the months prior. The decision to designate the certification process as a national special security event was based on various congressional reports, including one from the House select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Security planning for the 2025 certification has been ongoing since the 2020 Capitol riot, with a focus on meetings and planning exercises over the past year. More than 140 officers were injured during the Capitol riot, and over 1,500 people have been charged with crimes related to the attack. The Capitol Police Inauguration Task Force has been sharing security plans with law enforcement partners, including DC’s Metropolitan Police Department, and has now begun sharing those plans with federal partners as well.
Despite still being in the early stages of determining the security measures that will be in place for the Electoral College certification, agencies are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the event and its participants. Eric Ranaghan, the special agent in charge of the USSS Dignitary Protective Division, emphasized the importance of national special security events and the collaboration between federal, state, and local partners to develop and implement a comprehensive security plan for the event.
The certification process on January 6, 2025, will mark the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack, and will have the full weight of the federal government behind its security. Designating the event as a national special security event underscores its significance and the need for heightened security measures to prevent any potential threats. The Secret Service will be responsible for managing security operations, with support from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of the event and its participants.
