House Concurrent Resolution 51

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 241 AND SECTION 253, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON WHO HAS LOST HIS RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE BY REASON OF HAVING BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME AND SENTENCED TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT SHALL HAVE HIS RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE RESTORED UPON HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON, EVEN IF HE WAS RELEASED ON PAROLE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendments to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 are 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 and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement 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."

II.

Amend Section 253, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 253. Any person who has lost his right of suffrage by reason of having been convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of imprisonment shall have his right of suffrage restored upon his release from prison, even if he was released on parole."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That these proposed amendments 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 2003, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law, with the amendments in this resolution being voted on as one (1) amendment since the proposed amendments pertain to one (1) subject.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment provides that any person who has lost his right of suffrage by reason of having been convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of imprisonment shall have his right of suffrage restored upon his release from prison, even if he was released on parole."

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.