HB 38

AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO CERTAIN PERSONS DISQUALIFIED BY REASON OF CONVICTION OF A DISENFRANCHISING CRIME; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PERSONS SHALL BE ENFRANCHISED AFTER COMPLETING THE TERM OF INCARCERATION AND PAROLE OR UPON THE IMPOSITION OF A PROBATION-ONLY SENTENCE FOR SUCH CRIMES; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE REMOVAL OF A PERSON'S NAME FROM THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UNLESS THE PERSON IS SERVING A TERM OF INCARCERATION OR PAROLE FOR A DISENFRANCHISING CRIME AT THE TIME OF REMOVAL; TO PROVIDE THAT A COURT'S CERTIFICATION OF A CONVICTION FOR PURPOSES OF REMOVAL FROM THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MUST INDICATE THE TYPE OF SENTENCE IMPOSED; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-151, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CIRCUIT CLERK'S ENROLLMENT BOOK LISTING THE NAMES OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF DISENFRANCHISING CRIMES MUST BE UPDATED TO EXCLUDE THE NAMES OF THOSE PERSONS ENFRANCHISED UNDER THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-125 AND 23-15-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE VOTER ROLL AND POLLBOOKS MUST BE UPDATED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS THAT STATE THAT A PERSON RESTORED THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE UNDER THIS ACT IS NOT DISQUALIFIED FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-213, 23-15-223 AND 23-15-239, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TRAINING FOR ELECTION COMMISSIONERS, REGISTRARS AND POLL MANAGERS THAT INSTRUCTS THEM ON THEIR DUTIES WITH REGARD TO PERSONS RESTORED THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE UNDER THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO UPDATE THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS TO VERIFY WHETHER A PERSON HAS A DISQUALIFYING CONVICTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.