NAACP Urges Mississippi Election Commissioners to Follow Every Legal Procedure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2026
Contact: Chyna Fields, cfields@naacpnet.org
JACKSON, Miss. — Today, the NAACP sent a formal letter to every Mississippi County Election Commission calling on election officials to strictly adhere to state law during the post-election ballot counting and certification process. The intervention comes in response to demands recently circulated to county commissions by attorneys from the Lex Politica law firm that misrepresent state election law and threaten to disenfranchise voters.
"Every voter in Mississippi deserves to have their vote counted strictly according to the law," said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. "The NAACP is on the ground monitoring every stage of this post-election process in every corner of the State. We will be watching closely to ensure election commissioners are permitted to follow every legal procedure and every ballot is accounted for free from intimidation and threats."
The NAACP's letter clarifies critical legal protections and statutory deadlines governing the post-election process, ensuring that every lawful vote is counted:
- Voters who cast an affidavit ballot have until the end of the business day on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to present the required identification or complete the cure process at their Circuit Clerk's office.
- Absentee ballots arriving at the Circuit Clerk's office by the end of the business day on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, must be processed and counted in accordance with state law.
- County Election Commissions are legally required to allow members of the public to observe the ballot counting and canvassing process.
In its letter, the NAACP directly refuted several demands put forward by Lex Politica attorneys, reminding election commissioners of what the law actually is:
- There is no legal authority for election officials to separate out or segregate valid affidavit ballots outside standard statutory procedures.
- Mississippi law does not require election workers to record the exact date and time an affidavit ballot is cured.
- No provision under Mississippi or federal law permits candidates in a U.S.Senate election to independently open or examine ballot boxes.
To promote transparency and maintain public confidence in the electoral outcome, the NAACP is also encouraging every county to immediately release to the public:
- The total number of affidavit ballots cast in the county;
- Comprehensive statistics on absentee ballots, including the total requested, total issued, and total returned; and
- The exact time, date, and physical location of all upcoming County Election Commission public meetings.
The NAACP will continue to deploy observers across the state through the conclusion of certification to safeguard the rights of all Mississippi voters.
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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.