HB 940: Restore voting rights of former non-violent offenders

House Bill 940, sponsored by Rep. Price Wallace, would automatically restore the voting rights of those who have served time for certain non-violent convictions.
Under the proposal, Mississippi’s long list of disenfranchising crimes would be narrowed and those who have been found guilty of non-violent offenses and completed their sentence will have their voting rights automatically restored after completing the sentence of their conviction.
The restoration of voting rights is a key element of rehabilitation for ex-offenders, including community reintegration. In interviews with 33 people convicted of a felony, conducted as part of a larger research project, the right to vote was a fundamental component of developing a positive identity, whereas being restricted from voting reinforced an outsider status—feeling like a partial citizen. Interviewees also linked civic participation with intentions to remain crime free. The study also stressed how civic engagement contributes to forming identities as law-abiding citizens which aids in the desistance from crime.
Restoration of voting rights is a public safety issue. According to one study, individuals who had their voting rights restored post-incarceration were found to have a lower likelihood of re-arrest compared to similarly-situated individuals in states which continued to restrict the right to vote after incarceration.
Empower Mississippi supports this legislation.
House Bill 940 died in the House of Representatives on February 13.