MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Apportionment and Elections; Judiciary B
By: Representatives Reynolds, Sykes
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A VETERAN, AS DEFINED IN TITLE 38 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, WHO HAS COMMITTED A NONVIOLENT DISQUALIFYING CRIME AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 241, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, SHALL HAVE HIS OR HER RIGHT TO VOTE RESTORED AFTER COMPLETING ALL OF THE SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 23-15-151, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-11. Every inhabitant of this state, except persons adjudicated to be non compos mentis, shall be a qualified elector in and for the county, municipality and voting precinct of his or her residence and shall be entitled to vote at any election upon compliance with Section 23-15-563, if he or she is:
(a) * * * A citizen of the United States of
America * * *;
(b) Eighteen
(18) years old and upwards * * *;
(c) Has resided
in this state for thirty (30) days and for thirty (30) days in the county in
which he or she seeks to vote, and for thirty (30) days in the
incorporated municipality in which he or she seeks to vote * * *;
(d) * * * Has been duly registered as an elector
under Section 23-15-33 * * *;
and
(e) * * * Has never been convicted of * * * any crime listed in Section
241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, except that a veteran, as defined in
Title 38 of the United States Code, who committed a nonviolent disqualifying
crime listed in Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, shall have the
right to vote after completing all of the requirements of his or her sentence.
* * * Any person who will be eighteen (18)
years of age or older on or before the date of the general election and who is
duly registered to vote not less than thirty (30) days before the primary
election associated with the general election, may vote in the primary election
even though the person has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday at the
time that the person seeks to vote at the primary election. No others than
those specified in this section shall be entitled, or shall be allowed, to vote
at any election.
SECTION 2. Section 23-15-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-19. Except as otherwise provided in Section 23-15-11, any person who has been convicted of vote fraud or of any crime listed in Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, shall not be registered, or if registered the name of the person shall be erased from the registration book on which it may be found by the registrar or by the election commissioners. Whenever any person shall be convicted in the circuit court of his or her county of any of those crimes, the registrar shall thereupon erase his or her name from the registration book; and whenever any person shall be convicted of any of those crimes in any other court of any county, the presiding judge of the court shall, on demand, certify the fact in writing to the registrar, who shall thereupon erase the name of the person from the registration book and file the certificate as a record of his office.
SECTION 3. Section 23-15-151, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
23-15-151. The circuit clerk of each county is authorized and directed to prepare and keep in his office a full and complete list, in alphabetical order, of persons convicted of vote fraud or of any crime listed in Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890. The clerk shall enter the names of all persons who have been or shall be hereafter convicted of vote fraud or of any crime listed in Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, in a book prepared and kept for that purpose. The board of supervisors of each county shall, as early as practicable, furnish the circuit clerk of their county with a suitable book for the enrollment of those names showing the name, date of birth, address, court, crime and date of conviction. The roll, when so prepared, shall be compared with the registration book before each election commissioner of the county. A certified copy of any enrollment by one clerk to another will be sufficient authority for the enrollment of the name, or names, in another county.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.