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Organization recognizes statewide collaboration, voter education, and sustained civic engagement as election officials complete the ballot-counting and certification process.
JACKSON, MISS. — As Mississippi's election officials work through the counting and certification process following the November 3 general election, the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable (MS BWR) is recognizing the extraordinary collective effort of civic engagement organizations, community leaders, voting rights advocates, legal professionals, and volunteers who have worked to ensure eligible voters' voices are heard.
The election has drawn national attention to Mississippi's election procedures, including the processing of affidavit and absentee ballots. Throughout the post-election period, MS BWR has worked alongside partners to provide timely, nonpartisan voter education, amplify critical election information, and support public awareness of processes designed to protect voters' rights.
“This work did not start today. It is the result of decades of organizing, advocacy, and sacrifice by generations of Mississippians who believed our democracy works best when every voice is heard and every community is represented. Today, we recognize that progress,” said Cassandra Welchlin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable. “Representation matters. Mississippi has the highest percentage of Black residents of any state in the nation, and the election of its first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction marks a historic moment more than 150 years in the making. Our democracy is strongest when elected leaders reflect the people they serve.”
“I am enormously proud of our team and the many partners who answered that call. From grassroots outreach and voter education to legal assistance and round-the-clock communications, this collective effort demonstrates what is possible when organizations come together around a shared commitment to fair and transparent elections.”
A COORDINATED EFFORT BEYOND ELECTION DAY
The work of MS BWR and its partners extended well beyond November 3, reflecting the importance of sustained civic engagement throughout the election process. Across Mississippi, organizations and community partners contributed to:
• Phone banking and outreach initiatives collectively reaching hundreds of thousands of voters.
• Nonpartisan public education about affidavit ballots, ballot curing requirements, and applicable deadlines.
• Rapid-response communications distributing timely, accurate election information.
• Legal assistance, election observation, and advocacy for adherence to established election procedures.
• Community engagement and coordination among local, state, and national organizations.
• Public information efforts supporting transparency and confidence throughout the counting process.
Through its communications and community engagement efforts, MS BWR helped connect Mississippians with essential voting information while elevating the importance of a fair, transparent, and lawful election process.
RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP OF BLACK WOMEN
For MS BWR, this moment also underscores the essential role Black women continue to play in strengthening civic participation and supporting democratic institutions across Mississippi.
The election of Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction is a historic milestone in representation. It follows generations of organizing, advocacy, and sacrifice by Mississippians committed to a democracy in which every voice can be heard. MS BWR recognizes the significance of this moment and the enduring importance of access to the ballot in every election.
“Black women have long been among the people doing the essential, often unseen work of sustaining our democracy,” Welchlin said. “We organize, educate, build partnerships, share information, and show up when our communities need us. This election was another reminder of the strength of that leadership and the importance of investing in it.”
MS BWR emphasizes that responsibility for administering elections, determining ballot eligibility, counting votes, and certifying results rests with the appropriate election authorities. Looking ahead, MS BWR remains focused on ensuring that every eligible voter can access the ballot in every election, free from unnecessary barriers.
A COMMITMENT THAT CONTINUES
As Mississippi moves toward completion of its election certification process, MS BWR remains committed to nonpartisan civic education, voter participation, and strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions.
“The story of this election is bigger than any single race or outcome,” Welchlin concluded. “It is about the people who showed up, the partnerships that made meaningful civic engagement possible, and our shared responsibility to protect the fundamental right of every eligible voter to have their ballot counted according to law.”
ABOUT CASSANDRA WELCHLIN
Cassandra Welchlin is executive director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable. A licensed social worker, advocate and mother, she has spent more than 20 years advancing policies that strengthen economic security and health for Mississippi women and families.
About the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable
The Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable is a statewide organization dedicated to advancing the leadership, civic engagement, economic security, and well-being of Black women and families. Through community organizing, education, advocacy, and coalition building, MS BWR works to ensure that Black women have a meaningful voice in the decisions and policies affecting their lives and communities.
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