Mississippi has 10 days to certify election results, secretary of state says

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi counties are continuing to process ballots and certify results from the Nov. 3 general election, with approximately 3,600 absentee-by-mail ballots still outstanding, Secretary of State Michael Watson said Wednesday.

Watson provided an update on the state’s election process, noting that Mississippi operates under a county-based system in which circuit clerks and election commissioners oversee elections locally.

As of Wednesday, 70 of Mississippi’s 82 counties had uploaded their unofficial election results through the Statewide Election Management System, known as SEMS.

Although counties are not required to upload unofficial results through the system, they have 10 days from Election Day to submit their certified results to the secretary of state’s office. That deadline is Nov. 13.

Those outstanding mail-in ballots must be received within five business days of Election Day to be counted.

An unknown number of affidavit ballots must also be processed during the 10-day certification period.

Until counties complete the certification process, Watson said local election officials remain the best source for the latest information on local results.

Unofficial results could change as outstanding absentee and affidavit ballots are processed and counties complete their canvassing and certification procedures.

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