AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO JANICE JOHNSON-BALL OF HARRISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.
Summary
House Bill 4140 is a private suffrage restoration bill that restores the right to vote to Janice Johnson-Ball of Harrison County, Mississippi. The bill identifies her prior disqualifying convictions, including a 1993 manslaughter conviction and a 2001 false pretense conviction, and states that she has since lived as a law-abiding and honorable citizen.
The measure is narrowly tailored to one individual and does not create a general change to Mississippi election law. Instead, it acts as a special legislative restoration of suffrage, making Johnson-Ball eligible to register and vote again upon the bill’s effective date. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.
Impact
HB4140 amends no general statutes and does not alter the statewide rules governing disenfranchisement or restoration of voting rights for other people with felony convictions. Its legal effect is limited to restoring Janice Johnson-Ball’s suffrage, removing the voting disability that resulted from her criminal convictions and allowing her to participate in elections once the act becomes effective.
Sentiment
The available record suggests the bill was presented in a straightforward, favorable manner, with no recorded committee debate or votes indicating opposition. The bill’s language itself reflects a positive assessment of the individual’s later conduct, describing her as a law-abiding and honorable citizen. Overall, the sentiment appears supportive and noncontroversial based on the limited available context.
Contention
There is no documented committee discussion or vote history showing active disagreement, so no specific points of contention are recorded. In general, bills restoring suffrage to a named individual can raise questions about the use of individualized legislative relief versus broader, uniform restoration procedures, but no such objections appear in the provided materials. The bill’s narrow scope and individualized nature are the main distinguishing feature rather than a source of documented dispute.