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UpdateNationalTuesday, November 10, 2026

Mississippi Senate race reaches ballot deadlines one week after Election Day

Mail-in ballot and affidavit ID deadlines passed Tuesday with counting and certification still ahead.

By the Democracy SENTRY deskPublished

Reporting by
Democracy Docket
“Mississippi Senate race hits key ballot deadlines. Here’s what comes next”, Tuesday, November 10, 2026
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What happened

Tuesday marked the deadline for mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive and for affidavit voters lacking photo ID to submit identification. As of Monday, Democrat Scott Colom led incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,536 votes in unofficial results. Secretary of State Michael Watson reported just over 2,700 absentee ballots still outstanding as of Monday.1

Election officials have several additional days to finish counting and certify results.1

2,536 votes
Colom's lead over Hyde-Smith in unofficial results as of Monday1
just over 2,700
absentee ballots still outstanding as of Monday1
What it means

What happens after deadlines pass

Affidavit voters who lacked photo ID at the polls had until Tuesday to submit identification for their votes to count.1

More on this story
National · Nov 9
King County Elections explained ballots picked up are still being processed
Reporting by "drop box" ballot on Bluesky
National · Nov 9
Outstanding ballot count unknown in Mississippi Senate race
Reporting by Election Law Blog (Rick Hasen)
The answers behind this
How votes are counted and made officialWhen does a mail ballot have to arrive to count?What is the difference between counting the votes and certifying them?

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Sources

  1. Democracy Docket, https://democracydocket.com/news-alerts/key-ballot-deadlines-arrive-in-mississippis-nail-biting-senate-race-heres-what-comes-next · Tuesday, November 10, 2026

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