MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representative Ketchings

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 241, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO ADD FELONY CHILD ABUSE, CHILD MOLESTATION, SEXUAL BATTERY, KIDNAPPING, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AND ANY FELONY VIOLATIONS OF THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LAW PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT OF TWENTY YEARS OR MORE TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES FOR WHICH A PERSON LOSES THE RIGHT TO VOTE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 241. Every inhabitant of this state, except idiots and insane persons, who is a citizen of the United States of America, eighteen (18) years old and upward, who has been a resident of this state for one (1) year, and for one (1) year in the county in which he offers to vote, and for six (6) months in the election precinct or in the incorporated city or town in which he offers to vote, and who is duly registered as provided in this article, and who has never been convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, felony child abuse, child molestation, sexual battery, kidnapping, aggravated assault, drive-by shooting, any felony violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law punishable by imprisonment of twenty (20) years or more or bigamy, is declared to be a qualified elector, except that he shall be qualified to vote for President and Vice President of the United States if he meets the requirements established by Congress therefor and is otherwise a qualified elector."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1999, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment adds child abuse, child molestation, sexual battery, kidnapping, aggravated assault, drive-by shooting and certain felony violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law to the list of offenses for which a person loses the right to vote."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.