What’s Taking Mississippi So Long to Count the Votes in Scott Colom’s Historic Senate Race? 

Mississippi could be on the verge of electing its first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction, but nearly a week after Election Day, the result is still hanging in the balance. Democrat Scott Colom holds a razor-thin lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in a race carrying particular weight in a state with a long history of racial segregation and voter suppression. Officials say the count comes down to thousands of absentee and affidavit ballots, and that process could take several more days. But with just a few thousand votes separating the candidates, every ballot counts. So we’re breaking down the delay and why this race is drawing national attention to the state’s voting system.

With 97% of the vote counted Sunday (Nov. 8), Colom was ahead by 2,574 votes, a margin of just 0.3 percentage points. We’ve told you how the contest could make history. If Colom wins, he would become Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction, nearly 150 years ago. The state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982.

So What’s Taking So Long?

The delay is largely the result of Mississippi’s election procedures and the number of outstanding ballots that still need to be verified, according to reporting from NPR. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive up to five business days later, while so-called affidavit ballots– like provisional ballots in other states– must undergo additional checks.

These ballots are often cast by voters whose eligibility cannot be immediately confirmed, including people with identification issues or discrepancies in their registration records. Voters have until Nov. 10 to provide missing information or identification, while counties have until Nov. 13 to certify their results.

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Secretary of State Michael Watson shared that 11,202 affidavit ballots had been processed by Friday (Nov. 6), with approximately 78% accepted. Nearly 3,200 mail-in absentee ballots were also still outstanding, according to his Nov. 6 update.

“Since Mississippi is a bottom-up state, circuit clerks and election commissioners run elections at the county level,” he explained in a statement. “While not required, 70 of the 82 counties have uploaded their unofficial results through the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS). Counties have 10 days from the date of the election to submit their certified results to our office, which is November 13.”

Meanwhile, Colom is making no effort to stay out of the spotlight. He has held at least eight public events since Election Day, meeting voters and speaking to national media about the possibility of a historic Democratic breakthrough. He has also pointed to his opponent’s absence.

“Ultimately, at some point, the senator needs to speak out. Where is Cindy Hyde-Smith?” Colom recently asked reporters. He challenged the incumbent to explain her path to victory and answer questions about the race.

Hyde-Smith has not appeared publicly since leaving her election-night watch party, although she has issued statements on social media insisting the contest is not over. Her campaign says its team is working to protect the integrity of the election and ensure every legal vote is counted. She is expected in Washington Monday (Nov. 9) as the Senate returns to session.

Both parties have deployed lawyers and observers to monitor the process, raising the possibility of legal challenges, Mississippi Today reported. There is no automatic recount system in the state. Any possible recount would require court intervention.

For now, Mississippi voters are left waiting. And with thousands of ballots still being reviewed, the outcome of one of the country’s most consequential Senate contests remains uncertain.