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HB 4140

Suffrage; restore to Janice Johnson-Ball of Harrison County.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeffrey Hulum

HB 4140 would restore Janice Johnson-Ball’s full voting rights in Mississippi, effective upon passage, if enacted.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 4140

Summary of Bill HB 4140 (2026) – Mississippi

Purpose and Intent

  • Restore the right of suffrage (voting rights) in full to Janice Johnson-Ball of Harrison County, Mississippi.
  • The bill explicitly states she was disqualified as an elector due to a prior conviction and seeks to grant back her right to vote.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Section 1: The right of suffrage is “fully and completely restored” to Janice Johnson-Ball.
    • Background provided: Convicted of Manslaughter in Harrison County on August 8, 1993.
    • Sentence history:
    • 1993: 12 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
    • Released from custody: July 29, 1998.
    • 2001: Convicted of False Pretense; sentenced to 36 months of supervised probation.
    • Probation discharged: February 25, 2004.
    • The bill notes that Johnson-Ball has since behaved as a law-abiding and honorable citizen.
  • Section 2: The act becomes effective upon passage.

Who is Affected

  • Specifically applies to Janice Johnson-Ball of Harrison County, Mississippi.
  • Functionally, it restores her voting rights as an elector.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative history:
    • Referred to Judiciary B (March 12, 2026).
    • Reported/Considered: “Title Suff Do Pass” (March 18, 2026) and passed the committee steps.
    • Passed the House (March 19, 2026).
    • Transmitted to Senate (March 20, 2026).
    • Senate action status: Died in Committee (April 15, 2026) — no final Senate action recorded.
  • Effective date: If enacted, the act would take effect on the date of passage.

Notes on Scope and Impact

  • The bill is narrowly targeted, addressing restoration of voting rights for a single individual rather than a broad policy change.
  • It does not create a general policy for automatic restoration; rather, it specifies the restoration for Janice Johnson-Ball based on her criminal history and public conduct.
  • If the bill were enacted, Johnson-Ball would regain all civil rights associated with suffrage.

Summary in Plain Language

HB 4140 seeks to restore the voting rights of Janice Johnson-Ball, a Harrison County resident, who was previously disqualified due to past criminal convictions. The bill asserts that she has since led a law-abiding life and would return her full suffrage rights upon enactment. The measure passed the House committee and chamber but did not advance in the Senate before the session concluded. If enacted, the restoration would take effect upon passage.

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

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