This bill could get some felons the right to vote back. HB 774 is still alive in the Senate and would create a study committee that would investigate whether any policy or law should be changed in order to allow felons who committed non-violent crimes have their right to vote be restored. The bill was authored by Rep. Denny.
House Bill 774
- BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
- SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Voter Enfranchisement Joint Legislative Study Committee to examine the impact of nonviolent offenses to franchisement, establish measurable goals and benchmarks for the State of Mississippi relating to suffrage, and study available methods to ensure that all persons who are eligible to vote face no continued barriers to registration or voting that result from their nonviolent felony convictions once they have completed all of their sentencing requirements. The committee shall, at a minimum, study and report to the 2019 Regular Session of the Legislature the following:
(a) Any potential policy or law changes that would
provide nonviolent felons with the ability to have their right to vote restored upon completing all sentencing requirements;
(b) Any negative societal effects that fall upon nonviolent felons who have completed all of their sentencing requirements but have not had their right to vote restored; and
(c) Any policies and procedures that have been implemented by other state legislatures to restore the right to vote to nonviolent felons who have completed all of their sentencing requirements.
About the Author(s)
Sarah Ulmer
Sarah is a Mississippi native, born and raised in Madison. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where she studied Communications, with an emphasis in Broadcasting and Journalism. Sarah’s experience spans multiple mediums, including extensive videography with both at home and overseas, broadcasting daily news, and hosting a live radio show. In 2017, Sarah became a member of the Capitol Press Corp in Mississippi and has faithfully covered the decisions being made by leaders on some of the most important issues facing our state. Email Sarah: sarah@magnoliatribune.com
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