Read the full stored bill text
S. C. R. No. 504 *SS26/R487.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G2/3
26/SS26/R487.1
PAGE 1 (aa\kr)
To: Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Barnett
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 504
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 1
241 AND 253 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO RESTORE 2
VOTING RIGHTS TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF NONVIOLENT FELONIES UNDER 3
CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF 5
MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendments to the Mississippi 6
Constitution of 1890 are proposed to the qualified electors of the 7
state: 8
I. 9
Amend Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read 10
as follows: 11
Section 241. (1) Every inhabitant of this state, except 12
idiots and insane persons, who is a citizen of the United States 13
of America, eighteen (18) years old and upward, who has been a 14
resident of this state for one (1) year, and for one (1) year in 15
the county in which he offers to vote, and for six (6) months in 16
the election precinct or in the incorporated city or town in which 17
he offers to vote, and who is duly registered as provided in this 18
article, and who has never been convicted of murder, rape, 19
S. C. R. No. 504 *SS26/R487.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R487.1
PAGE 2 (aa\kr)
bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false 20
pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy, is declared to 21
be a qualified elector, except that he shall be qualified to vote 22
for President and Vice President of the United States if he meets 23
the requirements established by Congress therefor and is otherwise 24
a qualified elector. Any person convicted of a nonviolent felony 25
under the laws of this state, or any other jurisdiction recognized 26
by this state, shall have his right to vote restored, via 27
procedures established by the Legislature, upon the satisfaction 28
of the following conditions: 29
(a) The individual has fully served all terms of his 30
sentence, including any term of incarceration, probation, parole 31
or post-release supervision; 32
(b) All court-ordered fines, fees, and restitution 33
associated with the conviction have been satisfied; and 34
(c) The individual has demonstrated good behavior by 35
remaining free from any new criminal convictions for a continuous 36
period of seven (7) years following the completion of his 37
sentence. 38
(2) For the purposes of this section, "nonviolent felony" 39
shall mean any felony that does not involve the use or threat of 40
physical force or violence against another person or result in 41
significant harm to property or individuals, as prescribed by law. 42
II. 43
S. C. R. No. 504 *SS26/R487.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R487.1
PAGE 3 (aa\kr)
Amend Section 253, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read 44
as follows: 45
Section 253. In any case where suffrage is not restored 46
according to Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, the 47
Legislature may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of both houses, of all 48
members elected, restore the right of suffrage to any person 49
disqualified by reason of crime; but the reasons therefor shall be 50
spread upon the journals, and the vote shall be by yeas and nays. 51
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendments in this 52
resolution be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified 53
electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the 54
first Monday of November 2026, as provided by Section 273 of the 55
Constitution and by general law. 56
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of the amendment 57
for the ballot shall read as follows: "The right to vote is a 58
fundamental principle of democracy. The rehabilitation and 59
reintegration of individuals who have served their sentences are 60
vital to promoting civic engagement and reducing recidivism. The 61
current language of the Mississippi Constitution prohibits all 62
citizens of Mississippi who have been convicted of a felony from 63
voting in local and state elections. By amending the 64
Constitution's language as proposed, individuals convicted of 65
nonviolent felonies would be permitted to vote upon the completion 66
of their sentence, payment of outstanding fines, and remaining 67
S. C. R. No. 504 *SS26/R487.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R487.1
PAGE 4 (aa\kr)
ST: Constitution; amend to restore suffrage to
nonviolent felons upon completion of certain
conditions.
free from any new criminal convictions for a continuous period of 68
seven (7) years following completion of their sentences." 69