NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
11/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/09/2026 08:25
A Lead is not a Result: NAACP Warns Against Intimidation, Urges the Nation to Keep its Eyes on Mississippi Until Every Ballot is Counted
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
JACKSON, Miss. - NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and Mississippi NAACP Executive Director Charles Taylor, joined by pastors and faith leaders from across the state, called today for election officials to be allowed to finish counting every legally cast ballot in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race between Scott Colom and Cindy Hyde-Smith without intimidation, harassment or interference. The leaders urged Mississippians and the nation to remain vigilant until the election is certified.
The voters have spoken. The NAACP stands with them and will make sure every legally cast vote is counted, including every valid affidavit ballot.
"Mississippi has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country, and still the people turned out in one of the highest turnouts in our state's history," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. "Our election officials are doing their jobs. They should not face intimidation as they complete the count so this election can be certified. We will stand against any individual or party who seeks to intimidate, discourage or use their platform to undermine that work. We must honor the voters, make every vote count and remain ever vigilant until the process is complete."
The system is busy because the people showed up
The leaders said county offices are under strain this week for one reason: the people of Mississippi did their part and turned out to vote. Voters stood in long lines, cast absentee ballots and pushed through barriers that were placed in their way. Now everyone, from election officials to candidates to party leaders, must honor the will of Mississippi voters.
"To the voters, I say thank you," said Charles Taylor, Executive Director of the Mississippi NAACP. "You stood in long lines. You voted by absentee. Because of you, we are on the verge of making history in Mississippi. This turnout did not happen by accident. It is the result of the hard work and determination of voters and organizers. We opened offices across the state and knocked on 150,000 doors to make sure people's voices were heard. We and countless partner organizations made sure people knew what was at stake in this election. Now we will make sure every one of those voices is counted."
This year the Mississippi NAACP opened 11 voter-registration sites, backed by early investments in organizing, and registered more than 17,000 voters.
Monitors are a safeguard against intimidation
A relatively small number of ballots remains to be counted, but each one is important. Those ballots belong to voters who did everything asked of them and deserve to have their choices counted.
More people than usual are now inside county offices watching the count, including attorneys and observers sent by campaigns and political parties. The NAACP said its members and volunteers are monitoring the process in all 82 counties, and they will stay through certification. They are there as a safeguard: to protect the integrity of the count and to stand against anyone who tries to intimidate the election workers and commissioners doing their jobs.
On Friday, the NAACP sent a public letter to every County Election Commission. The letter urges officials to follow state law, keep counting and canvassing open to public observation, and publicly report each county's affidavit and absentee ballot totals.
We the people means all of the people
The leaders said Mississippi has a long, painful history of using race as a stand-in for keeping people from voting. Voters faced new hurdles in this election too. Mississippi does not offer no-excuse early voting. Before the election, the state used commercial credit-bureau data to check voter addresses, and more than 200,000 voters were reportedly marked inactive. Many of them could only cast an affidavit ballot when they reached the polls. Volunteers with the NAACP's Election Protection program also documented polling places that ran out of paper ballots, voters who said their on-time registrations were never processed, and too few voting machines, which left voters waiting in line for hours.
"We must live up to the true creed of our democracy: We the People," Johnsonsaid. "Not some of the people. All of the people."
Key dates this week
- Monday, November 9: Voters who cast an affidavit ballot should call or visit their county circuit clerk's office and ask: "Was my affidavit ballot received? Has it been counted? If it is under review, why? Do I need to provide anything, and by what deadline?"
- Tuesday, November 10: Voters who cast an affidavit ballot because they did not have an acceptable photo ID must bring that ID to the circuit clerk's office by close of business. This is also the last day for mail-in absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive.
- Friday, November 13: This is the deadline for every county election commission to certify its results to the Secretary of State.
Voters should keep their affidavit receipt and write down the date, time and name of anyone they speak with. Anyone who is told their ballot will not count, or who cannot get an answer, should call 1-888-601-VOTE.
A turning point
The leaders called this race a turning point, not a finish line. It shows what steady investment and determined voters can do in Mississippi and across the South. The NAACP pledged to keep organizing, to help new voters keep voting, to reach Mississippians who are still not registered, and to build toward the 2027 elections, when the governor's office and every other statewide constitutional office will be on the ballot.
"This is a turning point, and we are not going back," Taylor said. "The voters have spoken. Let's count every legal vote, certify the results according to the law, and then get to work improving the lives of Mississippians."
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.
NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People published this content on November 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 09, 2026 at 14:25 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]