HC10 • 2026

Constitution; amend to provide automatic restoration of suffrage for persons convicted of nonviolent crimes.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 253, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE TO ANY PERSON DISQUALIFIED BY REASON OF A NONVIOLENT CRIME, AFTER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE COMPLETION OF ANY SENTENCE, PROBATION AND/OR PAYMENT OF RESTITUTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime Elections

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Karriem
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: No Effecti

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies that the Legislature can restore suffrage for violent crimes with a two-thirds vote, but this is not covered in the candidate explanation.

Restoring Voting Rights for Nonviolent Offenders

This bill proposes to change Mississippi's constitution to automatically restore voting rights to people who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes after five years, once they complete their sentence and pay any required restitution.

What This Bill Does

Changes the Mississippi Constitution to allow automatic restoration of voting rights for those with nonviolent criminal convictions.
Requires a waiting period of five years from when someone finishes their sentence or probation before restoring their right to vote.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes and have completed their sentences, including paying any restitution or finishing probation.

Terms To Know

Suffrage: The right to vote in elections.
Restitution: Money paid by someone who has been found guilty of a crime, as part of their punishment.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
The bill only applies to nonviolent crimes and does not change voting rights for those convicted of violent crimes without special legislative action.
The state legislature can restore voting rights earlier than the five-year wait with a two-thirds majority vote, but this is not mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/12 (H) Referred To Constitution;Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Constitution; amend to provide automatic restoration of suffrage for persons convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. C. R. No. 10 *HR43/R1354* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G2/3
26/HR43/R1354
PAGE 1 (MCL\KP)

To: Constitution; Judiciary
B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Karriem

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1
253, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE FOR THE 2
AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE TO ANY PERSON DISQUALIFIED BY 3
REASON OF A NONVIOLENT CRIME, AFTER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM 4
THE COMPLETION OF ANY SENTENCE, PROBATION AND/OR PAYMENT OF 5
RESTITUTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF 7
MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi 8
Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the 9
state: 10
Amend Section 253, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read 11
as follows: 12
"Section 253. The right of suffrage is restored 13
automatically to any person disqualified by reason of a nonviolent 14
crime after a period of five (5) years from the completion of any 15
applicable sentence, probation and/or payment of restitution 16
related to the nonviolent crime. The Legislature may, by a 17
two-thirds (2/3) vote of both houses, of all members elected, 18
restore the right of suffrage to any person disqualified by reason 19
H. C. R. No. 10 *HR43/R1354* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1354
PAGE 2 (MCL\KP)
ST: Constitution; amend to provide automatic
restoration of suffrage for persons convicted of
nonviolent crimes.
of a violent crime; but the reasons therefor shall be spread upon 20
the journals, and the vote shall be by yeas and nays." 21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be 22
submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at 23
an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday 24
of November 2026, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution 25
and by general law. 26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed 27
amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed 28
constitutional amendment provides for the automatic restoration of 29
suffrage to any person disqualified by reason of a nonviolent 30
crime after a period of five (5) years from the completion of any 31
sentence, probation and/or payment of restitution. The 32
restoration of suffrage for persons disqualified for violent 33
crimes would still require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of both houses 34
of the Legislature." 35