SB 2216

AN ACT TO ENACT THE EASE ACCESS TO SUFFRAGE (EASE) ACT; TO ESTABLISH THE EASE ACCESS TO SUFFRAGE PROGRAM WITHIN THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM SHALL BE TO PUBLISH THE CRITERIA FOR THE RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE IN MISSISSIPPI, TO CREATE A PUBLIC PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS, TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE SUFFRAGE RESTORATION PROCESS AND TO ENSURE THAT A PERSON'S RIGHT TO VOTE IS FULLY RESTORED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION AFTER THE RESTORATION OF THE RIGHT BY THE LEGISLATURE UNDER ARTICLE 12, SECTION 253 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890; TO SET FORTH CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE; TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION TO CREATE A PUBLIC PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS; TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM THROUGH A MEDIA CAMPAIGN; TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO COORDINATE WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE IN DETERMINING THE CRITERIA FOR THE RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE AND THE PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROMULGATE RULES OR REGULATIONS TO ADMINISTER THIS SECTION; TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROMULGATE CLEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT A PERSON'S RIGHT TO VOTE IS FULLY RESTORED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION AFTER THE RESTORATION OF SUFFRAGE UNDER ARTICLE 12, SECTION 253 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.