Tippah County voter turnout reached 55.38% in the Nov. 3 general election, well above the county’s last midterm. According to The Southern Sentinel, 7,406 ballots were cast out of 13,372 registered voters. In the 2022 midterm, 5,568 ballots were cast, which was about 39% of the voters registered at that time.
Tippah County Voter Turnout by the Numbers
Here is how this year’s turnout compares with 2022, based on the figures the Sentinel reported:
That works out to 1,838 more ballots than four years ago, an increase of about 33%. Turnout rose by roughly 16 percentage points.
The Sentinel also reported that Tippah County’s vote was decisive in several races, even as affidavit ballots were still being processed in counties around the state.
What Was on the Ballot
Tippah County voters cast ballots in the U.S. Senate race, the 1st Congressional District race, a special election for the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and district judicial races. Our election night results story has the unofficial local numbers. The 18th Chancery District race appears headed to a runoff; see our chancery judge runoff report for details.
Affidavit Ballots and Certification
Statewide, the close U.S. Senate race between Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom is still being counted, and affidavit ballots are a big part of the remaining count. Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said last week that 12,000 to 20,000 affidavit ballots could still be uncounted across the state, WLBT reported.
Here’s how the process works, according to the Secretary of State’s office:
County election commissioners have 10 days after the election to process and certify affidavit ballots.
Commissioners must review and decide on affidavit ballots in open public meetings, and members of the public may attend and watch.
Voters who cast an affidavit ballot because they did not have a photo ID had five days to show their ID at the courthouse. Other affidavit voters do not need to take any further action.
Voters can check the status of an absentee or affidavit ballot online once county commissioners enter it into the statewide system.
Tippah County residents with questions about their ballot can contact the Tippah County Circuit Clerk’s office at the courthouse in Ripley.
Why Turnout Matters Locally
Higher participation means county results reflect a larger share of residents. With 55% of registered voters taking part, more than half the county’s voters had a say this year, compared with fewer than four in ten in 2022. Results will not be final until county and state certification is complete.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
