Mississippi Votes: 2026 midterm election updates and results

Mississippi Votes: 2026 midterm. Mississippi Votes: 2026 midterm election updates and results.

Key points

• The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office is experiencing high call volume on the Elections Hotline (800-829-6786) as of Noon.
• Hyde-Smith's campaign event is slated for the Sheraton Refuge Hotel and Conference Center in Flowood at 7: 00 p.m.
• Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat nominee Scott Colom have published their Election Night watch party locations, both of which will be in the Jackson metro area.
• Special elections to be held Tuesday in Mississippi House Districts 70 and 77.
• Colom's event will be at The Ice House in Jackson from 6: 30 p.m.

Magnolia Tribune is tracking the latest Election Day news, information and results as voters go to the polls in Mississippi. Follow here and check back throughout the day for the latest on the November 3 midterm election. 1: 00 p.m.

Notably, the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office is experiencing high call volume on the Elections Hotline (800-829-6786) as of Noon. Voting machines temporarily being down.

State agency websites experiencing accessibility problems, including slow response times and connectivity errors when users attempt to access pages. Elections operations and the security of our system are unaffected.

Voters verifying registration status All Mississippians legally entitled to cast a ballot are encouraged to vote. Should a voter arrive at the precinct associated with his or her address and not be listed on the poll book, the voter should vote by affidavit ballot.

"As long as the voter is in the same county and is otherwise a registered voter, his or her vote counts and the voter registration will be updated, " the SOS stated. "The couple of extra minutes needed for someone to cast an affidavit ballot is well worth the integrity the voter roll maintenance procedures add to our elections in Mississippi."

Polls close at 7: 00 p.m., but any voter in line at 7: 00 p.m. Is legally entitled to cast a ballot.

County election authorities will commence tabulating ballots at the closing of the polls. 12: 50 p.m.

Notably, the campaigns of Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat nominee Scott Colom have published their Election Night watch party locations, both of which will be in the Jackson metro area.

Colom's event will be at The Ice House in Jackson from 6: 30 p.m. Until 11: 00 p.m. 12: 30 p.m.

Jackson County, a typically heavy Republican county in Mississippi, is having technical and logistics problems today. Individuals have been reportedly leaving precincts due to the matters. A statement just published from the Election Commission states.

We are experiencing equipment problems at some polling locations throughout Jackson County, resulting in delays for voters. Today is the first election using the county's new voting machines.

We recognize that your time is valuable, and we apologize for the delays and frustration this has caused.

We ask for your patience and understanding with our poll workers and encourage you to remain in line to cast your ballot.

If you are in line at 7 p.m. Tonight, you have the right to vote.even if your wait extends past closing time. Please stay in line.

"Thank you for your patience and your commitment to making your voice heard." 12: 00 p.m.

Plenty of counties throughout Mississippi are reporting "heavy turnout" with long lines. Some wait times have been an hour or more to cast a ballot.

There have been reports throughout the state of voting machine matters. It local election authorities are working to resolve. 11: 00 a.m.

There will be no runoff in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race should a candidate fail to reach the 50% +1 vote threshold.

All that is required by state law in federal general elections for a candidate to win is a plurality, or receiving more than any of the other candidates, even if they don't reach 50%.

That has happened before in Mississippi. In 1978, Republican Thad Cochran won his first term to the U.S. Senate over Democrat Maurice Dantin and Independent Charles Evers. Cochran won 45.3% to Dantin's 31.8% and Evers' 22.6%. Cochran went on to become Mississippi's first Republican U.S. Senator since Reconstruction and would serve until 2018. 8: 40 a.m.

Reports have been coming in this morning of individuals having trouble accessing the Secretary of State's website. According to a spokesperson with the Mississippi Secretary of State's office.

"The state is at present experiencing technical matters affecting all state agency websites. Elections operations and security of our system is unaffected. The state is actively putting measures in place to resolve the problems." 7: 30 a.m.

As of Monday, November 2, the Statewide Election Management System documented a total of 123, 040 absentee ballots requested, 122, 590 absentee ballots sent, and 116, 453 absentee ballots received in the state of Mississippi for the 2026 General Election, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State's office.

That absentee ballot total more than doubles the 2022 midterms when President Joe Biden (D) was in office. It came in at less than 50, 000. Approximately 33% of registered voters, or 709, 000, in Mississippi cast a ballot in the 2022 midterm with 7% coming by way of absentee voting. 7: 00 a.m.

Polls are now open in Mississippi and will remain open until 7: 00 p.m.

Any voter in line at 7: 00 p.m. Is legally entitled to cast a ballot.

Notably, the Mississippi Secretary of State's office encourages voters to visit the My Election Day portal to receive election information tailored to a specific address, including a sample ballot. Type in your address and click on the populated address to obtain kicked off.

It is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place, unless on private property. The polling places should be clear for 30 feet from every entrance of all individuals except election office-holders, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers. Voters are prohibited from taking pictures of their marked ballot.

Challenges at the polls observed by state observers or otherwise noted to the Secretary of State's Elections Division will be referred to the authorities, including the Attorney General's Office or the appropriate District Attorney's Office. Nevertheless, the Secretary of State's Office has no enforcement authority over election-related matters. Regarding the Author(s).

Frank Corder is a native of Pascagoula. For almost two decades, he has noted and offered analysis on administration, public policy, business and matters of faith. Frank's interviews, articles, and columns have been shared throughout Mississippi as well as in national publications. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State. Frank has served his community in both elected and appointed public office, hosted his own local radio and television programs, and managed private businesses all while being an engaged husband and father. Email Frank: [email protected].

News Frank Corder November 2, 2026.

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For now, mississippi Votes: 2026 midterm election updates and results remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.