Michigan certifies results of presidential election, giving Biden the win

Electoral College formally elects Biden as nation’s 46th president

Trump and allies continue to make baseless claims of widespread voter fraud

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan on Monday certified the results of the presidential election, formalizing President Donald Trump’s defeat in the battleground state and giving Democrat Joe Biden a victory in the Electoral College.

The certification came after a meeting of the state Board of Canvassers, which voted 3-0 to certify the results. The vote followed a hearing last week at which Trump’s allies made baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

The Michigan results give Biden 284 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win the presidency. Trump has 232 electoral votes.

The Electoral College is scheduled to meet on Dec. 14 to formally elect Biden as the nation’s 46th president.

Trump and his allies have continued to make baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, but their legal challenges have been repeatedly rejected by courts.

In a statement released after the Michigan certification, Trump said he would continue to fight the results.

"We will never stop fighting for the truth and the integrity of our elections," Trump said.

The Michigan certification is a major step in the process of finalizing the results of the presidential election.

Once the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14, the results will be sent to Congress, which will certify the results on Jan. 6.

Biden will be inaugurated as president on Jan. 20.