Federal Appeals Court Overturns Mississippi's Lifetime Voting Ban for Felony Convictions

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has struck down Mississippi's lifetime voting ban for individuals with felony convictions, ruling it as unconstitutional and a "cruel and unusual punishment." The ban, derived from the state's 1890 constitution, disproportionately affected Black Mississippians. The court's decision will restore the voting rights of tens of thousands of Mississippians who were previously disenfranchised. The ruling stated that the ban serves no protective function to society and denies a precious right to a large class of citizens.