MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2018 Regular Session

To: Rules; Constitution

By: Senator(s) Turner-Ford

Senate Concurrent Resolution 524

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 241, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS CONVICTED OF A FELONY SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND FOR RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS UPON MEETING CERTAIN CONDITIONS; 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.  (1)  Every inhabitant of this state * * *, except idiots and insane persons, who 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 * * * and upward, who or older;

(c)  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 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 * * * he the person offers to vote, and who is duly registered as provided in this article * * *, and who has never been convicted of 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 and by statute; and

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

(2)  If a person has been convicted of a felony, except for capital offenses, he may become a qualified elector and have all civil rights restored if the person:

(a)  Has fully discharged the person's sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, probation, other supervision, or restitution ordered by any court; and

(b)  Presents to the registrar of voters a certificate from the Mississippi Criminal Information Center of the Department of Public Safety showing that the person has not committed a crime for a period of five (5) years from completion of his sentence.

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

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendment 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 2019, 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 of a felony may be eligible to vote and have all civil rights restored if the person has fully discharged any sentence and presents a certificate to the registrar of voters that the person has not committed a crime for five years since the completion of his sentence."