WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 940

Voting rights and felony expungement; person may have voting rights restored and certain felony records expunged after five years.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Felsher and 2 co-sponsors

HB 940 would restore voting rights and expunge felony records for Mississippi residents five years after sentence completion, addressing criminal justice access while raising public safety concerns.

Died On Calendar
#constitution
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 940

Legislative bill overview

HB 940 proposes allowing Mississippi residents with felony convictions to restore their voting rights and expunge certain felony records after five years have elapsed since sentence completion. The bill would create a pathway for individuals to petition for both restoration of voting privileges and erasure of criminal records based on a time-served threshold rather than case-by-case discretion.

Why is this important

This bill addresses two significant policy areas: voting access and criminal justice reform. Mississippi currently has some of the nation's strictest felony disenfranchisement laws, and expanded expungement could reduce barriers to employment, housing, and civic participation for formerly incarcerated individuals. However, the bill also raises public safety and victim considerations that stakeholders weigh differently.

Potential points of contention

  • Voting rights for felons: Opponents argue that felony disenfranchisement serves public safety interests, while advocates contend it perpetuates systemic inequality and that voting is a fundamental right that shouldn't be permanently stripped
  • Expungement scope: Questions remain about which felonies qualify, whether violent crimes are included, and if records truly disappear or remain accessible to law enforcement and certain employers
  • Timeline appropriateness: Five years post-sentencing may be viewed as too short by those prioritizing public safety or too long by criminal justice reformers, with legitimate debate about what timeline balances rehabilitation and community protection

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

Sign in to ask a question.