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SB 3397

Suffrage; restore to Frankie Ward, Jr.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rod Hickman

Restores voting rights to Frankie O’Neal Ward, Jr. after felony convictions, effective July 1, 2026, restoring his suffrage fully and completely.

Died In Committee
#judiciary #divisionb
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 3397

Summary of Bill SB 3397 (Session 2026) – Mississippi

Purpose

  • Restore the right of suffrage (voting rights) to Frankie O’Neal Ward, Jr. of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.
  • The bill explicitly states that Ward’s right to vote would be “fully and completely” restored after previously being disqualified due to criminal convictions.

Key Provisions

  • Section 1: Restores suffrage to Frankie O’Neal Ward, Jr.
    • Ward was disqualified as an elector on August 16, 2002 due to multiple convictions in Simpson County:
    • Two counts of armed robbery
    • One count of grand larceny
    • Also convicted of kidnapping (in Simpson County)
    • Sentencing details (concurrent terms under Mississippi Department of Corrections):
    • Charge 1: Armed robbery — 15 years (5 years suspended) with a 5-year post-release supervision
    • Charge 2: Armed robbery — 15 years (5 years suspended) with a 5-year post-release supervision
    • Charge: Kidnapping — 10 years
    • Charge: Grand larceny — 3 years
    • Ward was discharged from DOC custody on June 14, 2012, due to expiration of sentence.
    • Ward was discharged from probation on March 29, 2016, after representation from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
    • The act notes that Ward has since conducted himself as a law-abiding, honorable citizen.
  • Section 2: Effective date
    • The act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Who is Affected

  • Frankie O’Neal Ward, Jr. would have his right to vote restored.
  • The bill does not appear to alter voting laws generally; rather, it provides a specific restoration of suffrage for one individual.
  • No other individuals or classes of voters are identified as directly affected by this bill.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Legislative history:
    • Referred to Judiciary, Division B on March 12, 2026.
    • Died in Committee on April 15, 2026.
  • If enacted, the restoration would take effect July 1, 2026.
  • The bill is sponsored by Senator Hickman (co-sponsor listed as Rod Hickman).

Notes and Context

  • This is a targeted restoration of voting rights for a single individual who previously committed multiple felonies and served penalties, with subsequent evidence of rehabilitation.
  • The bill does not propose a broad change to Mississippi’s general felon voting restoration framework; it is a one-time restoration for Frankie Ward, Jr.

If you’d like, I can compare this to Mississippi’s general existing processes for restoring suffrage after felony convictions or provide a plain-language brief for non-legal audiences.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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