Court blocks Mississippi ban on voting after some crimes, but GOP official will appeal ruling

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

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.

That’s according to a split decision Friday from a federal appeals court panel. Two judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ordered the Mississippi secretary of state to stop enforcing a provision that disenfranchises people convicted of specific crimes, including murder, forgery and bigamy.

If the ruling stands, thousands of people could regain voting rights. A spokesperson for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch says the Republican expects to ask the full appeals court to reconsider the panel’s 2-1 ruling.