Bill > HB1971

This bill restores the right to vote (suffrage) to Debra Denise Thomas of Hinds County, Mississippi, who previously lost her voting rights due to a criminal conviction. Specifically, Thomas was convicted of shoplifting in Warren County in 1998, initially receiving a suspended three-year sentence and five-year probation. After violating her probation, she was sentenced to serve three years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, which she completed by July 22, 2002. The bill acknowledges that since her release, Thomas has conducted herself as a law-abiding citizen. By passing this bill, the Mississippi Legislature is individually reinstating Thomas's voting rights, effectively removing the legal barrier that prevented her from participating in elections due to her prior criminal conviction. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage, allowing Thomas to register and vote in future elections.

Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB1971.xml