What’s delaying the US Senate election results in Mississippi and Alaska?

Both Senate races are close enough that outstanding ballots could change the leaders. Mississippi is a Republican stronghold, but Democrat Scott Colom nearly matched incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Alaska is also exceptionally tight, and its voting system can require several counting rounds.

In Mississippi, Colom led Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes with about 3,600 mail-in ballots and an unknown number of provisional ballots still outstanding. Counties have until November 13 to submit certified results. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican Dan Sullivan by 637 votes, while nearly one-quarter of ballots remained uncounted.

Alaska’s ranked-choice results are not scheduled for publication until November 18. Mississippi allows 10 days to process provisional ballots and five business days for eligible mail ballots to arrive. If Mississippi ends in a deadlock, candidates need a court order to request a recount.

Provisional ballots, also called affidavit ballots, are issued when election officials are unsure whether a voter is eligible. The article gives missing or inappropriate identification documents as one example. Officials must review these ballots before accepting them, which takes longer than counting ordinary ballots.

Mail-in absentee ballots are ballots sent by voters who vote by mail rather than at their polling place. Mississippi officials allow them to arrive for five business days after the election. The state had about 3,600 such ballots left to count, while counties also had an unknown number of affidavit ballots.

These extra checks and deadlines delay a final result. Mississippi permits 10 days to process provisional ballots. Counties must submit certified results by November 13, so the Senate race could remain unsettled until those ballots are reviewed and included.

Both contests were remarkably close. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes, with both candidates holding about 49 percent of the vote. Ninety-six percent of ballots had been counted.

Mississippi still had roughly 3,600 mail-in ballots to tally, plus an unknown number of provisional or affidavit ballots. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican Dan Sullivan by 637 votes. Nearly one-quarter of the state’s ballots remained uncounted, although the article does not provide a precise number.

The remaining ballots matter because either race could change with such narrow margins. Alaska’s final result may also depend on ranked-choice tabulation. Its Division of Elections said ranked-choice results would not be published until November 18, while Mississippi counties had until November 13 to submit certified results.

Ranked-choice voting lets Alaskan voters number candidates from their first choice onward. The initial count examines only first-choice selections. A candidate wins immediately if that count produces more than 50 percent of the vote.

If nobody passes 50 percent, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Ballots that ranked the eliminated candidate first then move to the next available choice marked by each voter. Officials count again after this redistribution. The process repeats until someone has a majority.

This system can delay the result because it requires additional counting rounds after the initial tally. Alaska is one of only two states using ranked-choice voting for statewide elections. Its Division of Elections said the ranked-choice results would not be published until 15 days after the election, on November 18.

When a candidate is eliminated in Alaska’s ranked-choice system, ballots that selected that candidate first are examined for another preference. Their votes are transferred to the next-ranked candidate still in the contest. This gives voters’ later choices a role in deciding the winner.

For example, if the lowest-scoring candidate is removed, supporters’ ballots may count for their second-choice candidate. Officials then recalculate the totals. If no candidate has more than 50 percent, another candidate is eliminated and another redistribution occurs.

The process continues until one candidate has a majority. It differs from a simple first-choice count, where the candidate with the most votes may win without exceeding half. Alaska’s multiple rounds help explain why its Senate result could take days or weeks and was not scheduled for publication until November 18.

Senate control affects how easily the majority can advance legislation. The article says Democrats would begin the 120th Congress with at least 54 seats. If they also won Mississippi and Alaska, they would hold at least 56 seats.

That larger majority would not by itself reach the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. A filibuster lets the minority party indefinitely stall legislation in the Senate. Democrats would therefore still need some Republican senators to break away, but winning both races would reduce the number required.

The practical effect would be a stronger position for Democrats when seeking votes for legislation. The final outcome depends on the two unresolved races. Mississippi remained close because of outstanding ballots, while Alaska still faced uncounted votes and possible ranked-choice rounds.

Election results are not finalized by counting election-night votes alone. States use legal rules for accepting late-arriving ballots, reviewing provisional ballots, certifying county totals, and challenging close outcomes. These rules determine when officials can announce a result and what happens if the margin is extremely narrow.

Mississippi illustrates the differences. It allows five business days for mail-in ballots to arrive and 10 days to process provisional ballots. Counties must submit certified results by November 13. If the race is tied, Mississippi has no automatic recount provision; candidates need a court order.

Alaska uses another approach because it conducts statewide elections with ranked-choice voting. Its Division of Elections said ranked-choice results would not be published until November 18. These different rules mean close races can remain unresolved for different lengths of time. This explanation uses established election knowledge beyond the article, which does not fully explain why states adopted different systems.