Senate Concurrent Resolution 541

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. 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 * * * in the county in which he offers to vote, and * * * in the election precinct or in the incorporated city or town in which he offers to vote as provided by law, and who is duly registered as provided in this article and by statute, and who has never been convicted of any felony under the laws of this state, another state or in federal court 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. This section shall not disqualify a person from registering to vote if he has been pardoned for the offense or if the offense of which the person was convicted was manslaughter, a violation of the United States Internal Revenue Code or a violation of the tax laws of this state unless such offense also involved misuse or abuse of his office or money coming into his hands by virtue of his office.

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 2007 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 persons convicted in any state or federal court of any felony other than manslaughter or tax code violations shall not be eligible 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.