Suffrage; restore to Janice Johnson-Ball of Harrison County.
Summary
House Bill 4002 is a private suffrage bill that restores the right to vote to Janice Johnson-Ball of Harrison County, Mississippi. The bill states that she lost her voting rights because of a 1993 manslaughter conviction and later a 2001 false pretense conviction, and it recites that she has since completed her sentences and probation and has behaved as a law-abiding citizen.
The measure is narrowly tailored to one individual and does not create a general change to Mississippi’s election laws. Instead, it operates as a legislative restoration of suffrage for a named person, effective immediately upon passage. If enacted, it would remove the voting disqualification tied to her felony convictions and allow her to register and vote again under state law.
Impact
HB4002 would amend the legal status of a single individual by restoring her suffrage rights, overriding the voting disqualification that resulted from her felony convictions. It does not alter the broader statutory framework governing felon disenfranchisement or voter eligibility in Mississippi; rather, it functions as a special act restoring civil rights to a named resident of Harrison County.
Sentiment
The bill’s tone is favorable and rehabilitative, reflecting the Legislature’s stated view that the individual has lived as a law-abiding and honorable citizen since completing her sentences. Because there is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, there is no evidence of organized opposition or divided sentiment in the available record.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of a private bill to restore voting rights to one person rather than relying on a broader, standardized restoration process. Supporters would likely emphasize rehabilitation, completion of punishment, and reintegration into civic life, while any criticism would likely focus on the individualized nature of the relief and the precedent of case-by-case suffrage restoration. No specific objections or opposing arguments are documented in the provided transcripts or votes.