Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race is still too close to call. Democrat Scott Colom currently leads incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde‑Smith by just a few dozen votes, according to the latest counts.
Ballots still pending
Approximately 20,000 ballots remain uncounted, including provisional ballots from voters who did not meet identification requirements at the polls and mail‑in ballots postmarked by Nov. 3. Election officials say scanned ballots and in‑person absentee ballots have already been processed.
Affidavit ballots – filed by voters who could not present ID on Election Day – must be verified with an approved form of identification at the voter’s circuit clerk office by Nov. 10 to be counted. Once all ballots are submitted, county election commissioners will review each for acceptance or rejection, a process that can take several days.
Certification timeline
Every Mississippi county has a Nov. 10 deadline for completing ballot counts and submitting results. The statewide certification deadline is Nov. 13, after which the final vote totals will be announced.
Mississippi law does not provide an automatic recount, but a candidate may seek a court order to initiate a recount if the results remain contested.
Candidate reactions
“We prepared for this moment,” Colom told Hearst sister station WAPT. “Our campaign, our volunteers, the people of Mississippi are not surprised.” He expressed confidence that the remaining affidavit votes could be decisive.
Cheikh Taylor, chair of the Mississippi Democratic Party, urged patience, saying, “I think the race is close. Everyone should just hold their horses for a little while and wait for those affidavit votes to come in. They’re going to be very important.”
What’s at stake
If Colom wins, he would become the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi since Reconstruction, marking a historic milestone for the state.
The race continues to attract attention from both parties as the final count approaches, and voters are encouraged to stay informed about the certification process and any potential legal actions.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
