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S. B. No. 2216 *SS36/R436* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Hickman
SENATE BILL NO. 2216
AN ACT TO ENACT THE EASE ACCESS TO SUFFRAGE (EASE) ACT; TO 1
ESTABLISH THE EASE ACCESS TO SUFFRAGE PROGRAM WITHIN THE EXTERNAL 2
AFFAIRS DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO 3
PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM SHALL BE TO PUBLISH THE 4
CRITERIA FOR THE RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE IN MISSISSIPPI, TO CREATE 5
A PUBLIC PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS, TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE 6
SUFFRAGE RESTORATION PROCESS AND TO ENSURE THAT A PERSON'S RIGHT 7
TO VOTE IS FULLY RESTORED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION AFTER THE 8
RESTORATION OF THE RIGHT BY THE LEGISLATURE UNDER ARTICLE 12, 9
SECTION 253 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890; TO SET FORTH 10
CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE; TO 11
REQUIRE THE DIVISION TO CREATE A PUBLIC PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS; 12
TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RAISE AWARENESS 13
OF THE PROGRAM THROUGH A MEDIA CAMPAIGN; TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY 14
OF STATE TO COORDINATE WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE IN 15
DETERMINING THE CRITERIA FOR THE RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE AND THE 16
PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO 17
PROMULGATE RULES OR REGULATIONS TO ADMINISTER THIS SECTION; TO 18
REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROMULGATE CLEAR 19
RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT A PERSON'S RIGHT TO VOTE IS 20
FULLY RESTORED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION AFTER THE RESTORATION OF 21
SUFFRAGE UNDER ARTICLE 12, SECTION 253 OF THE MISSISSIPPI 22
CONSTITUTION OF 1890; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 23
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 24
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 25
"Ease Access to Suffrage Act" or the "EASE Act." 26
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SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following terms shall 27
have the meaning herein ascribed unless the context clearly 28
requires otherwise: 29
(a) "Department" means the Office of the Secretary of 30
State. 31
(b) "Division" means the External Affairs Division 32
within the department. 33
(c) "Program" means the Ease Access to Suffrage Program 34
established in Section 3 of this act. 35
(d) "Suffrage bill" means a bill that restores the 36
right to vote of a person who was disenfranchised. 37
SECTION 3. (1) The Ease Access to Suffrage Program is 38
established within the External Affairs Division of the 39
department. 40
(2) The purpose of the program shall be to: 41
(a) Publish the criteria for the restoration of 42
suffrage in Mississippi; 43
(b) Create a public portal for applications; 44
(c) Raise awareness about the suffrage process; and 45
(d) Ensure that a person's right to vote is fully 46
restored for the next election after the restoration of suffrage 47
by the Legislature under Article 12, Section 253 of the 48
Mississippi Constitution of 1890. 49
SECTION 4. The published criteria within the program shall 50
include, but not be limited to: 51
S. B. No. 2216 *SS36/R436* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(a) How long an individual should be released from the 52
custody of the Department of Corrections before requesting the 53
filing of a suffrage bill; 54
(b) The required information for the drafting of a 55
suffrage bill; 56
(c) The proof of payment on fines, fees or restitution 57
if needed; 58
(d) The proof of any completed programs of 59
rehabilitation if needed; and 60
(e) Other criteria as required by the Mississippi 61
Constitution or either chamber of the State Legislature. 62
SECTION 5. (1) The program shall include a public portal 63
for applications from disenfranchised individuals, or individuals 64
assisting disenfranchised individuals with their applications, to 65
the Legislature for the restoration of the right of suffrage. The 66
public portal shall regularly update an applicant on the status of 67
the application, including its acceptance or rejection. 68
(2) It shall be the duty of an applicant to retain a member 69
of the Mississippi House of Representatives or the Mississippi 70
Senate to sponsor a suffrage bill under the program. 71
(3) Suffrage bills shall be prepared and drafted by the 72
Legislative Services Offices of either the House or the Senate. 73
The division may prepare a draft of a suffrage bill as part of the 74
portal to be used in the preparation and drafting of the actual 75
suffrage bill. 76
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ST: Ease Access to Suffrage (EASE) Act; enact.
(4) Once a suffrage bill is filed in either chamber, the 77
portal shall update an applicant on the bill's status in the 78
Legislature. 79
SECTION 6. The department shall raise awareness of the 80
program via a media campaign on one or more public facing 81
platforms to include, but not be limited to, a website, social 82
media platforms or a newspaper. 83
SECTION 7. In establishing the criteria for suffrage bills 84
and the rules and regulations required by subsection (2) of 85
Section 8 of this act, the Secretary of State shall coordinate 86
with the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Chairs 87
of the Senate Judiciary, Division B Committee, the Senate 88
Elections Committee, the House Judiciary B Committee and the House 89
Apportionment and Elections Committee. 90
SECTION 8. (1) The department shall have the authority to 91
promulgate rules or regulations to administer this section. 92
(2) The department shall promulgate clear rules and 93
regulations to ensure that a person's right to vote is fully 94
restored for the next election after the restoration of suffrage 95
under Article 12, Section 253 of the Mississippi Constitution of 96
1890. 97
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from 98
and after July 1, 2026. 99