Since Joe Biden was declared President Elect on November 7, Donald Trump has fought a long-shot legal battle to overturn the results of the election. With the arrival of the “safe harbor” deadline today, the President’s prospects have dwindled even further. 

Over the past month, Trump’s legal team has been suing states on claims of election fraud. Although his legal losses continue to climb and most of his suits have failed, the President has nevertheless refused to concede the election. 

Regardless if Trump concedes or not, the nation’s complex electoral system continues to move towards formally electing Joe Biden as President of the United States. While Biden has been declared President Elect, the election results must be legally formalized with the convening of the Electoral College on December 14. Under this system, states must individually finalize and submit their results before the Electoral College meets. 

However, if a state has finalized six days before then, Congress is legally bound to accept the Electors that arrive in Washington D.C. by that date. With today marking the “safe harbor” deadline, the President’s team has little chance to reverse his losses in states that have already sent their electors.

According to the Associated Press, every state besides Wisconsin has already sent their electors. Although Wisconsin is expected to do so later today, even if it missed the deadline its ten electors are expected to vote for Biden, who won the state by some 20,000 votes. 

In a year of historic political fighting, with the passing of the “safe harbor” deadline, Trump has virtually no legal chance of winning the election. As the results are the same as they were on November 7, it is increasingly clear that Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States of America.