Senate Concurrent Resolution 521

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 241 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO RESTORE THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF FELONIES; TO REPEAL SECTION 44, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, WHICH PROVIDES THAT PERSONS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES ARE INELIGIBLE FOR OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendments to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 are 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 for one (1) year, and for one (1) year in the county in which he or she offers to vote, and for six (6) months in the election precinct or in the incorporated city or town in which he or she offers to vote, and who is duly registered as provided in this article, * * * is declared to be a qualified elector, except that he or she shall be qualified to vote for President and Vice President of the United States if he or she meets the requirements established by Congress therefor and is otherwise a qualified elector. Any prior disqualification from voting arising from a conviction for murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy shall terminate and voting rights be restored.

II.

Section 44, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, which provides that persons convicted of certain crimes are ineligible for office, is hereby repealed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendments in this resolution be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2025, 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: "The current language of the Mississippi Constitution prohibits all citizens of Mississippi who have been convicted of a felony from voting in local and state elections. Additionally, persons convicted of felonies are ineligible to run for certain offices. By amending the Constitution's language as proposed, individuals convicted of felonies would be permitted to vote and run for office, regardless of whether their sentence is completed."