Fillingane stated that it is likely that at least some of these suffrage bills would be considered by his Judiciary B Committee, with the intention to have them sent to the full Senate chamber. Fillingane said, “We’re now looking at them.” People convicted of certain felonies are not allowed to vote under the state’s Jim Crow-era Constitution of 1890. Legislation can be approved by both chambers of Congress and signed by the governor to restore the right to vote. Mississippi is one of fewer than 10 states that does not automatically restore the right of people convicted for felonies to vote after they have completed their sentences. Mississippi Votes, a grassroots organization that supports voter access, stated in a statement that it was time to reform the process for restoring suffrage. The statement stated that the process was not only unclear, but also unfair. Mississippians who wish to restore their voting rights must travel to the Capitol to pick up a paper application. They then need to fill it out manually and return it to their representative. The state Legislature does not provide an online application form that can be downloaded or sent electronically. The state Legislature also made it difficult to obtain any information regarding the process. Mississippi Votes is helping some people to restore their voting rights through these bills. The House passed 21 bills to restore voting rights in the 2021 session. The Senate Judiciary B Committee killed all but two of these bills. Fillingane stated that the Judiciary B Committee had guidelines that prohibited the restoration of voting rights for those convicted in violent crimes or those convicted in embezzling public money. Nick Bain (Republican House Judiciary B Chair), who passed the suffrage legislation out of committee, said that it is basically the same criteria he uses. Bain stated that he doesn’t believe any additional bills to restore voting rights will be considered by the House during this session. It is set to close Sunday. The 1890 Mississippi Constitution includes a prohibition on voting. This was one of many attempts to stop Black Mississippians voting. The Constitution was incorporated by the Framers to prohibit voting rights for crimes they felt Black Mississippians were more likely than others. The disenfranchisement language continues to have a significant impact on African Americans, with them still being disproportionately convicted for crimes. Mississippi Today’s 2018 analysis found that 61% Mississippians have lost their right to vote, despite the fact African Americans making up 36% of the state’s total voting-age population. A list of crimes that can result in a person losing their voting rights is contained in the Constitution. Arson, armed theft, bigamy and bribery are all disenfranchising offenses. Other crimes, like those connected with drug sales, do not result in a person being unable to vote. Bain proposed legislation to clarify that those who have had their conviction for a felony expunged by the legal process should be eligible to vote again. Bain stated that the right to vote can be restored in certain jurisdictions, but not in others. Although it appeared that the legislation clarifying expungement had been killed in the Senate, Bain was able later to revive the bill. It now forms part of a bill giving pay raises for judges and district attorneys.