The usually mundane Congressional vote to certify the presidential Electoral College results is now under fire by members of the Republican Party who do not want Joe Biden to become president.
They are challenging the validity of the results in states that voted for Mr Biden.
But the leader of the Senate, Republican Mitch McConnell, says if they overrule voters the US would enter a democratic death spiral.
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui spoke to our correspondent in Washington DC, Simon Marks.
