Suffrage; restore to William Roberts of Harrison County.
Summary
House Bill 4004 is a local and private suffrage restoration bill that restores the right to vote to William Roberts of Harrison County, Mississippi. The bill specifically identifies his prior disqualifying conviction for grand larceny in 1986, notes his sentence and release date, and states that the Legislature has been informed he has since lived as a law-abiding and honorable citizen.
The measure does not change general election law or the rules governing felony disenfranchisement statewide. Instead, it grants a personal, individualized restoration of suffrage to one named person, effective upon passage. If enacted, it would remove William Roberts’s voting disqualification and allow him to register and vote under Mississippi law.
Impact
HB4004 would amend the legal status of one individual by restoring his suffrage rights, but it would not create a broader statutory change to Mississippi’s election or criminal-disfranchisement laws. Its practical effect is limited to William Roberts, overriding the voting disqualification that resulted from his felony conviction and allowing him to participate in elections again once the act takes effect.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or recorded vote information is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. The bill text itself uses favorable language about the individual’s post-conviction conduct, which suggests a routine or supportive suffrage-restoration measure rather than a contested policy proposal. Overall sentiment appears neutral to positive, with the Legislature being asked to grant a specific act of clemency-like relief.
Contention
The main point of contention in bills of this type is usually whether an individual’s past felony conviction should continue to bar voting rights or whether sufficient time and evidence of rehabilitation justify restoration. In this bill, the only affected party is William Roberts, and the text emphasizes his long period of lawful conduct after release. Because no committee discussion or votes are included, no specific objections, sponsors, or opposing arguments can be identified from the record provided.