Why Mississippi, Alaska Senate election results are not yet out; check the real reason behind these two US states not declaring winners

Days after a blue wave swept the House, Senate and governor elections in the 2026 US midterm, the Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska remain undecided, with thousands of ballots still awaiting counting or verification. However, both of the states are facing quite different challenges in finalising their results. Mississippi's delay is because of its county-based vote-counting and reporting process, while Alaska must complete its ranked-choice voting system before declaring a winner.

Why Mississippi has not declared a Senate winner

In Mississippi, the closely contested race between Democratic challenger Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is being held up by outstanding absentee and provisional ballots.


According to the Associated Press, Colom led Hyde-Smith by nearly 2,500 votes, while approximately 30,000 ballots were still uncounted as of November 7. The estimate could change as election officials obtain updated figures from the state's 82 counties.

Unlike states that use a centralized reporting system, Mississippi relies on county election officials to process and report their results. Absentee ballots can arrive until November 10, while counties have until November 13 to certify their results. Provisional ballots, including those requiring verification, also contribute to the delay.

"We are not backing down. This election is not over. Our team is working across Mississippi to monitor the remaining ballots and protect the integrity of the process. We will see this through to the very end," read a social media post from Hyde-Smith.

"It's not about her, it's not about the Republican Party. It's about the people of Mississippi. It's clear they've chosen to go into a new direction,” Colom said in an interview, according to KCRA.

Why Alaska's Senate results are delayed

Alaska's delay is largely linked to its ranked-choice voting system and the time required to count ballots arriving from remote communities.

Democrat Mary Peltola was leading Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan by fewer than 700 votes, with approximately 74% of ballots counted as of November 7, according to KTTC. However, neither candidate had secured the majority required to win outright.

Peltola acknowledged the lengthy process, telling supporters: “The results are not gonna be fast, but Alaskans are patient... It will be weeks. We know this. We know this. This is how it’s always been. This is normal. This is Alaska normal.”

Under ranked-choice voting, if no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and their ballots are redistributed according to voters' subsequent preferences. The process continues until someone obtains a majority. Alaska's final ranked-choice tabulation is scheduled for November 18.

The state also needs time to receive and process ballots from geographically isolated communities, where voting materials may have to be transported by air or mail.