Trump-Biden transition: Attorney Sidney Powell back at White House

According to early excerpts of his speech Monday evening, Biden is expected to emphasize that the 2020 election proved that even a pandemic or "an abuse of power" can’t stop democracy from playing out. 

"If anyone didn’t know it before, we know it now. What beats deep in the hearts of the American people is this: Democracy," Biden will say, according to an excerpt of his remarks. "The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we now know that nothing -- not even a pandemic -- or an abuse of power -- can extinguish that flame."

Biden is expected to speak after the final state's Electoral College votes have been cast, and with his win official, will return to his call for unity and healing.

"In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed. We the people voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact. And so, now it is time to turn the page. To unite. To heal," Biden plans to say according to a second excerpt.

The president-elect once again will pledge to be a president for all Americans and to work to address the most urgent challenges facing the country including coronavirus vaccine distribution and economic relief.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

When asked about Biden’s plans on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, a transition official told ABC News the president-elect is in touch with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top expert on infectious diseases, on the topic and that Biden plans to take the vaccine in public when Fauci recommends he should do so.

Biden has asked Fauci to stay on in his administration as chief medical adviser of Biden's COVID-19 equity task force.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

In Michigan, the last of the six contested battlegrounds to vote Monday, where the electors were escorted by police into the state Capitol amid security concerns and "credible threats of violence," 16 electors cast their votes for Biden, finalizing his win in the state.

All six key states that delivered Biden the White House -- Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan -- convened their presidential electors for meetings that featured no drama and no defections by faithless electors.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed her state's electors to laud state officials and workers for running a successful election and urged that the results are now final.

"The people have spoken. It was a safe, fair and secure election," she said ahead of the electors' vote. "It was the kind of election our founding fathers envisioned when they created this democracy and built this country. And after today, the results will be final. It's time to move forward together as one United States of America."

Despite the possibility of violence looming over the day, only a small group of protesters had gathered outside the Capitol building, closed to the public, while electors conducted business inside. One of those electors, Chris Cracchiolo, the chair of Grand Traverse Democratic Party, told ABC News he still feels "honored" to be part of the proceedings. 

"I think the importance of the elector role has been magnified every day since November 3," he said over email before the meeting got underway. "I feel honored and privileged to do this."

Connor Wood, another elector for Biden and chair of the Jackson County Democratic Party, implored the country to move away from the Electoral College system hours before the electors gathered inside the Senate chamber in Lansing.

"Today is another day that reminds me of the absurdity of the ramshackle Rube Goldberg device we use to elect our nation’s leaders, and of the necessity of moving to a 'one person, one vote' system that we use to elect literally every single other office in the entire country," he said.

-ABC News' Kendall Karson

In a very procedural affair in Albany, New York’s 29 electors cast their votes for Biden. Among those in attendance were former President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who are both electors. 

Fellow elector Gov. Andrew Cuomo, wearing a mask, thanked the Clintons, who appeared in-person for the meeting, for “all the great work they have done for this nation” with the chamber breaking out in applause inside the chamber.

After the vote, Hillary Clinton tweeted calling for the Electoral College to be abolished. Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by nearly 3 million votes but lost the all-important electoral count to Trump.

-ABC News' Kendall Karson