Can a Felon Vote in Mississippi?

Mississippi, also called The Magnolia State, is one of the 50 US states. It is home to 2.9 million Americans.

Currently, the state of Mississippi houses 28,800 inmates, which represents 1,270 out of every 100,000 individuals in the state. 94% of the prisoners are men, while 6% are women.

Prisoners are still people. If they have already paid for what they have done, they deserve a second chance. Therefore, they should be given the right to vote to give them the opportunity to become successful and peace-loving individuals.

Can Felons Vote in Mississippi?

Mississippi is one of 10 US states where the right to vote can be permanently removed, depending on the crimes committed.

Permanent removal of the right to vote can be imposed on people who are guilty of bigamy, bribery, larceny, forgery, arson, murder, and other violations in Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890.

However, if the person committed a crime that is not heinous enough to warrant the removal of the right to vote, then they will be allowed to vote just like any person even while still in jail.

Registration will be the same for former prisoners as it would be for typical unregistered voters. Since the right to vote is not removed from prisoners who have not committed serious offenses, they can register during election periods as usual.

How Felons Can Restore Voting Rights in Mississippi?

Restoration is unnecessary if the right has not been permanently removed from the prisoner.

  • Voter registration can be done either by mail or in person. Either way, voters will need to complete a registration form.
  • The registration form should be sent to the city hall. The city hall will issue a voter ID once the processing of the application is complete.
  • Registration must be done at least thirty days before the coming election. Once registered, people should double check with the registrar’s office to verify their registration.

Sources

www.dmv.org/ms-mississippi/voter-registration.php

http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/Voter-Registration-Information.aspx

 

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