JACKSON, Miss. - A 3-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 in a ruling that Mississippi is violating the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment by permanently stripping voting rights from people convicted of some felonies, The split decision was made Aug. 4.
The panel ordered the Mississippi secretary of state to stop enforcing a provision in the state constitution that prevents people convicted of specific crimes, including murder, forgery and bigamy.
If the ruling stands, thousands of people could regain voting rights, possibly in time for the Nov. 7 general election.
Mississippi's Attorney General Lynn Fitch expects to ask the full appeals court to reconsider the 2-1 ruling, her spokesperson, Debbee Hancock, said Aug. 4.
The 5th Circuit is one of the most conservative appeals courts in the U.S. In 2022, it declined to overturn Mississippi's felony disenfranchisement provisions - a ruling that came in a separate lawsuit.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not consider that case, allowing the 2022 appeals court ruling to stand. (The AP 06/04/23) Court blocks Mississippi ban on voting after some crimes, but GOP official will appeal ruling | News | wtva.com
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