Convicted felons; restore right to vote and run for office.

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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 511

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 241 1
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO RESTORE THE RIGHT TO 2
VOTE TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF FELONIES; TO REPEAL SECTION 44, 3
MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, WHICH PROVIDES THAT PERSONS 4
CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES ARE INELIGIBLE FOR OFFICE; AND FOR 5
RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF 7
MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendments to the Mississippi 8
Constitution of 1890 are proposed to the qualified electors of the 9
state: 10
I. 11
Amend Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read 12
as follows: 13
Section 241. Every inhabitant of this state, except idiots 14
and insane persons, who is a citizen of the United States of 15
America, eighteen (18) years old and upward, who has been a 16
resident of this state for one (1) year, and for one (1) year in 17
the county in which he offers to vote, and for six (6) months in 18
the election precinct or in the incorporated city or town in which 19
he offers to vote, and who is duly registered as provided in this 20
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article, * * * is declared to be a qualified elector, except that 21
he shall be qualified to vote for President and Vice President of 22
the United States if he meets the requirements established by 23
Congress therefor and is otherwise a qualified elector. Any prior 24
disqualification from voting arising from a conviction for murder, 25
rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false 26
pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy shall terminate 27
and voting rights be restored. 28
II. 29
Section 44, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, which provides 30
that persons convicted of certain crimes are ineligible for 31
office, is hereby repealed. 32
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendments in this 33
resolution be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified 34
electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the 35
first Monday of November 2026, as provided by Section 273 of the 36
Constitution and by general law. 37
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of the amendment 38
for the ballot shall read as follows: "The current language of 39
the Mississippi Constitution prohibits all citizens of Mississippi 40
who have been convicted of a felony from voting in local and state 41
elections. Additionally, persons convicted of felonies are 42
ineligible to run for certain offices. By amending the 43
Constitution's language as proposed, individuals convicted of 44
S. C. R. No. 511 *SS26/R675* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Convicted felons; restore right to vote and
run for office.
felonies would be permitted to vote and run for office, regardless 45
of whether their sentence is completed." 46