Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1627: Voting rights; person may have restored in certain circumstances.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS OTHERWISE A QUALIFIED ELECTOR AND HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF CERTAIN DISENFRANCHISING CRIMES, EXCEPT FOR ARSON, ARMED ROBBERY, CARJACKING, EMBEZZLEMENT, MURDER, RAPE, SEXUAL BATTERY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD EXPLOITATION, COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY, OR STATUTORY RAPE, SHALL HAVE HIS OR HER RIGHT TO VOTE REVOKED, BUT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AUTOMATICALLY RESTORED AFTER HE OR SHE HAS SATISFIED ALL OF THE SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVICTION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-19, 23-15-125, 23-15-151, 23-15-153 AND 23-15-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 97-39-3 AND 99-19-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend section 23-15-11, mississippi code of 1972, to provide that a person who is otherwise a qualified elector and has been convicted of certain disenfranchising crimes, except for arson, armed robbery, carjacking, embezzlement, murder, rape, sexual battery, human trafficking, child exploitation, commercial sexual activity, or statutory rape, shall have his or her right to vote revoked, but shall have the right to vote automatically restored after he or she has satisfied all of the sentencing requirements of the conviction…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS OTHERWISE A QUALIFIED ELECTOR AND HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF CERTAIN DISENFRANCHISING CRIMES, EXCEPT FOR ARSON, ARMED ROBBERY, CARJACKING, EMBEZZLEMENT, MURDER, RAPE, SEXUAL BATTERY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD EXPLOITATION, COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY, OR STATUTORY RAPE, SHALL HAVE HIS OR HER RIGHT TO VOTE REVOKED, BUT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AUTOMATICALLY RESTORED AFTER HE OR SHE HAS SATISFIED ALL OF THE SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVICTION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-19, 23-15-125, 23-15-151, 23-15-153 AND 23-15-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 97-39-3 AND 99-19-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 23-15-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 23-15-11. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, every inhabitant of this state, except persons adjudicated to be non compos mentis, shall be a qualified elector in and for the county, municipality and voting precinct of his or her residence and shall be entitled to vote at any election upon compliance with Section 23-15-563, if he or she is: *HR26/R211.1* H. B. No. 1627 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G2/3 26/HR26/R211.1 PAGE 1 …