Mississippi Senate Count Turns to Affidavit and Mail Ballots

Mississippi’s US Senate race remained unresolved on Wednesday, with Democrat Scott Colom holding a lead of only a few dozen votes over Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and both campaigns predicting victory as the count moved to ballots that take longer to process.

Where the count stands

As of early Wednesday, Colom led Hyde-Smith 462,821 to 462,778, a margin of 43 votes out of more than 925,000 cast, with an estimated 95.6 percent of ballots counted, according to WLBT in Jackson. Later tallies reported by CBS News and other outlets showed the gap still under 100 votes. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins had about 20,000 votes.

Mississippi has no runoff in general elections for Congress. Whoever receives the most votes wins, even without a majority. State law also does not provide for an automatic recount in a close race.

The ballots still to come

The outcome now depends largely on affidavit ballots, which are cast when a voter’s eligibility must be checked, and on mailed absentee ballots. The Colom campaign estimated there were roughly 10,000 to 15,000 outstanding affidavit ballots statewide, Mississippi Today reported, though no official figure has been released.

Mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day can still arrive through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and voters who cast affidavit ballots because they lacked identification have until the same deadline to present it, according to the secretary of state’s election calendar. County election commissions must send certified returns to the state by Nov. 13, and the secretary of state is scheduled to declare results on Dec. 3.

What the campaigns are saying

Hyde-Smith’s campaign said in a statement that the race “remains extremely close as counting continues” and that thousands of affidavit and absentee ballots “still must be processed and verified under Mississippi law,” WLBT reported. The campaign said it was confident the senator would be reelected once every legally cast vote is counted.

Colom told reporters on Wednesday, “We’re going to win this,” according to WLBT. Speaking to supporters earlier in the morning, he said results were “trending in our direction,” CBS News reported.

DeSoto County lawsuit

On election night, the Mississippi Democratic Party filed an emergency lawsuit in DeSoto County, citing late-opening polling places, ballot shortages and long lines, and asking for extended voting hours, according to the Magnolia Tribune. The party later moved to dismiss the case, and a judge granted the request, the publication reported. Preliminary results in DeSoto County showed Colom ahead there, according to the same report.

Why the race matters

Democrats have already secured a Senate majority after flipping at least seven Republican-held seats, according to the Associated Press. A Colom victory would add another seat in a state that President Donald Trump carried by about 20 points in 2024 and that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982, CBS News noted.

Hyde-Smith, 67, was appointed in 2018 and has won two elections since. Colom, 43, is a district attorney who campaigned on the cost of living and health care.

Alaska’s Senate race also remains uncalled, with final results there expected after ranked-choice tabulation later this month. BURN VOC will report the Mississippi result when it is called by the Associated Press or confirmed by state officials.

How we reported this

This report is based on information confirmed by the Associated Press or by at least two major news organizations, as noted in the text. Figures from early or partial counts are identified as such and may change. BURN VOC will update this story as new information is released.