Senate Concurrent Resolution 547

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 241, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS CONVICTED OF A FELONY SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

NOW, THEREFORE, 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. Qualifications for electors. Every inhabitant of this state is declared to be a qualified elector if the person:

(a) Is a citizen of the United States of America;

(b) Is eighteen (18) years old or older;

(c) * * * Has resided in this state for thirty (30) days, and for thirty (30) days in the county in which the person offers to vote, and for thirty (30) days in the incorporated city or town in which the person offers to vote and who is duly registered as provided in this article and by statute;

(d) Has not been determined mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court;

(e) Has not been finally convicted of a felony other than manslaughter, any violation of the United States Internal Revenue Code, or any violation of the tax laws of this state or, if so convicted, has:

(i) Fully discharged the person's sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or

(ii) Been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote.

A person shall be qualified to vote for President and Vice President of the United States if the person meets the requirements established by Congress therefor and is otherwise a qualified elector.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendments in this resolution shall be submitted to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2004, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of the amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment provides that a person convicted in any state or federal court of any felony other than manslaughter or tax code violations shall not be eligible to vote until the person has fully discharged any sentence, received a pardon, or the Legislature has passed a suffrage bill on the person's behalf."

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.