House Bill 777

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS TO PERSONS WHO HAVE SERVED IN AND BEEN HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 99-19-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

99-19-37. (1) Any person who has lost the right of suffrage by reason of a first conviction of a nonviolent crime and such person is not a public official who has been convicted of a crime involving corruption related to public office and such person has not been pardoned therefrom, who * * * served honorably in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States * * * and shall have received an honorable discharge, or release therefrom, shall by reason of such honorable service, have the full right of suffrage restored * * *.

* * *

(2) In order to have restored, and to exercise, the right of franchise under the provisions of this section a person affected hereby shall have his discharge, or release, from the Armed Forces of the United States recorded in the office of the chancery clerk of the county in which such person desires to exercise the right of franchise and if such discharge, or release, appears to be an honorable discharge, or release, and shows such person to have served honorably, * * * such person shall have the full right of suffrage restored as though an act had been passed by the Legislature in accordance with Section 253 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi restoring the right of suffrage to such person.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.