Bill Text: MS SC573 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Constitution; amend Section 241 to allow felons to vote and restore civil rights upon meeting certain conditions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2012-03-06 - Died In Committee [SC573 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SC573-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Elections; Constitution
By: Senator(s) Turner
Senate Concurrent Resolution 573
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 241, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS CONVICTED OF A FELONY SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND FOR RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS UPON MEETING CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state.
Amend Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:
Section 241. (1) Every inhabitant of this state * * * is declared to be a qualified elector if the person:
(a) Is a citizen of the United States of America;
(b) Is eighteen (18) years old or older;
(c) * * * Has resided in this state for thirty (30) days, and for thirty (30) days in the county in which the person offers to vote, and for thirty (30) days in the incorporated city or town in which the person offers to vote and who is duly registered as provided in this article and by statute; and
(d) Has not been determined mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court;
(2) If a person has been convicted of a felony, except for capital offenses, he may become a qualified elector and have all civil rights restored if the person:
(a) Has fully discharged the person's sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, probation, other supervision, or restitution ordered by any court; and
(b) Presents to the registrar of voters a certificate from the Mississippi Criminal Information Center of the Department of Public Safety showing that the person has not committed a crime for a period of five (5) years from completion of his sentence.
(3) A person shall be qualified to vote for President and Vice President of the United States if the person meets the requirements established by Congress * * * and is otherwise a qualified elector.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendments in this resolution shall be submitted to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2012, 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: "This proposed constitutional amendment provides that a person convicted of a felony may be eligible to vote and have all civil rights restored if the person has fully discharged any sentence and presents a certificate to the registrar of voters that the person has not committed a crime for five years since the completion of his sentence.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.
