Mississippi Constitution ARTICLE 12. FRANCHISE 240
Mississippi Constitution – Article 12: Franchise
Section 240
🔷 Overview:
Section 240 of the Mississippi Constitution is a voting rights provision. It addresses who is disqualified from voting based on certain criminal convictions.
🔹 Key Content of Section 240:
"No person convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretenses, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy shall be qualified to vote unless pardoned."
🧾 Explanation:
Disqualifying crimes: The section lists specific felonies that cause the loss of voting rights. These include:
Murder
Rape
Bribery
Theft
Arson
Fraud-related crimes (false pretenses, forgery, embezzlement)
Perjury
Bigamy
A person convicted of any of these crimes cannot vote in Mississippi unless they have received a pardon.
A pardon (typically issued by the Governor or through legislative action) is the only way to restore voting rights for individuals disqualified under this section.
⚖️ Legal Context and Controversy:
Section 241 (adjacent to this one) has historically expanded the list of disqualifying crimes, and both sections have been the subject of legal challenges and civil rights concerns, especially regarding their disproportionate impact on Black voters.
Critics argue that such provisions limit reintegration into civic life for former felons and contribute to voter suppression.
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