I disagree. It is ceremonial.
If the VP doesn't show up or can't the Joint Session to count the votes, the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate takes his place.
As for the having authority to return votes or reject votes - if Pence tried it, it wouldn't get very far - the remain in the Joint Session. The Dems would immediately protest, and McConnell, Pelosi and McCarthy would ask him to step down due to his refusal to preside over the proceedings, and replace him with the President Pro-Tempore, who was Chuck Grassley - in order continue with the Joint Sesion.
There wouldn't be anything Pence could do about it, because the House and Senate controls the Joint Session and the electoral votes -within the Capitol Building on Jan 6. Nancy Pelosi has more power over Congress than Pence. The Speaker of the House is elected by the House members, on the other hand, the President of the Senate is not elected by the Senate. He is not considered a member of the Senate and the Legislative Branch, but of the Executive Branch, because the POTUS picks the VP.
Pence wouldn't have gotten away with taking advantage of the loophole - SCOTUS would stop it b/c it's unConstitutional - it's unprecedented - frankly Pence doesn't possess the authority - the States wouldn't have received the votes from him. Maybe if Congress objected to the validity - they could return the votes.
However....it's possible that a future Democrat VP - could get away with it through a corrupt Congress and/or SCOTUS. And that's why Trump and Pence worked out the plan to convince Congress they had to make the language clearer, set in stone VP is minesterial only, close that loophole- prevent Kamala in particular from disrupting the counting of the votes in 2025. That IS the vital result from the ECA reform act.
@beholdisrael I fear Trump is becoming a King Saul due to his proud and unrepentant heart. For when he betrays Israel, God will have to reject him, and America will FALL.
Right, we should rejoice for the fulfillment of His prophecies, and we should also feel sadness and sympathy for those who will suffer as a result. Because if or when Trump betrays Israel because of his proud, and unrepentant heart, America will FALL!
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep". Romans 12:12
@Mike_Pence Mike Pence's faith in God is stronger, deeper and more mature than Donald Trump's if he has any at all. In fact Trump proved his ignorance of God's word when he said he was the reason why Israel exists. Only God is the reason why Israel exists.
@Rogmatt66@Mike_Pence YOU are blind to the truth in the Word of God because YOU have no faith in God. How dare YOU to bear false witness against Mike Pence, who's faith is more mature than yours and Donald Trump, if he has any at all.
@Mike_Pence To the true regenerated believers, Mike Pence's faith in the Lord Jesus is far stronger and more mature than Donald Trump's and his followers' ...if sadly they have any at all.
@TTrumpite@Mike_Pence Most obviously to the true regenerated Christians, Mike Pence's faith in the Lord Jesus is stronger and more mature than Donald Trump's and his followers'...if they any at all. How sad.