Federal Appeals Court Upholds Mississippi's Felon Voting Ban

The 5th Circuit Court ruled that changes to the state's disenfranchisement laws must come from legislators, not the judiciary.

Mississippi's Constitution permanently bars voting for individuals convicted of specific felonies, including both violent and nonviolent crimes.
The decision reversed a previous ruling that found the ban violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Dissenting judges argued that disenfranchisement after sentence completion is excessively punitive and undermines democratic principles.
The court emphasized that any changes to the law should be pursued through legislative processes and public consensus.
The ruling affects tens of thousands of Mississippi residents and highlights ongoing debates over felon disenfranchisement.