-snip-
New information : I just checked my wallet again using a backup wallet file - and it shows that the bitcoins are in there ... so ... yeah. I guess ... problem sorted? I do appreciate the help, though. Just the fact that people replied has elevated my view of the user base on bitcoins. Apparently, during the transaction, it created a backup file that was not being shown to me. Loading up the backup wallet file, the bitcoins are shown. Go figure.
You must have a "
local transaction" in your current Electrum wallet, it's either a non-broadcast(
ed) transaction or dropped from mempools.
Refer to HCP's post for the icon in the history tab, it has a "
blue computer" logo.
The issue was, Electrum is also computing the local transactions into your wallet's total balance but since it's not technically "
sent",
your wallet backup which doesn't have that local transaction saved, still shows the correct balance.
The actual solution is (
only if your backup is missing the latest labels, etc.): Just right-click on the local transaction, then select "
Remove"; and the balance should update.