Election Certification to Take Place With Tighter Security After '21 Capitol Attack

The U.S. government will increase security for Congress' certification of the Nov. 5 election result, which is due on Jan. 6, to avoid a repeat of the 2021 attack on the Capitol by protesters looking to disrupt the proceedings over claims of voter fraud.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated the congressional certification of the election as a "national special security event," the Secret Service said in a statement on Wednesday. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in what polls show to be a tight election race.

The designation allows federal government, state and local resources to be dedicated to the security operation. It also puts the Secret Service in charge of the security plan.

The Secret Service said the designation was recommended in reports by a congressional probe and a watchdog investigation into the 2021 Capitol attacks.

CONTEXT

Trump lost the 2020 election to Democratic President Joe Biden but claimed victory. For weeks after his loss, he urged Congress not to certify the election result.

His supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's win.