Colom leads Hyde-Smith as ballot deadline arrives

BILOXI, Miss. (WDAM) — Scott Colom leads incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,536 votes in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race as Tuesday marks the deadline for receiving mail-in absentee ballots and curing affidavit ballots.

Colom has 467,961 votes, or 49.1% of the estimated total, while Hyde-Smith has 465,425 votes, or 48.8%.

As of Monday, counties were still waiting for 2,578 mail-in ballots, according to Secretary of State Michael Watson. Of the 15,547 affidavit ballots processed, 76% had been accepted.

Mail-in absentee ballots must have been postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days of the election to count. Tuesday is also the deadline for voters to cure an affidavit ballot at their circuit clerk’s office.

County circuit clerks and election commissioners have until Nov. 13 to finish counting ballots and certify their results.

See election results HERE.

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