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Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in Mississippi

How Mississippi law treats restoring rights after a felony, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Restoring rights in Mississippi is not automatic. Voting rights come back in one of three ways: a 'suffrage bill' passed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature (Constitution § 253), a pardon from the Governor (Constitution § 124; Miss. Const. art. 12, § 253; art. 5, § 124; Miss. Code Ann. §§ 47-7-41, 97-37-5; Mississippi Secretary of State, Disenfranchising Crimes (2025)

Restoring rights after a felonyRestoring rights in Mississippi is not automatic. Voting rights come back in one of three ways: a 'suffrage bill' passed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature (Constitution § 253), a pardon from the Governor (Constitution § 124; the petitioner must first publish the request in a newspaper in the county of the crime for thirty days), or, for someone discharged from probation, an executive order of the Governor after a written request through the field officer (§ 47-7-41), which the Governor may grant in his discretion. Gun rights are restored separately: by a pardon, by federal relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), or by a certificate of rehabilitation that the court of conviction may grant if it finds the person has been rehabilitated, has led a law-abiding life since finishing the sentence, and is not likely to be a danger to public safety.
Statutes read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code: https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-47-prisons-and-prisoners-probation-and-parole/ms-code-sect-47-7-41.html and https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-97-crimes/ms-code-sect-97-37-5.html.
Source: Miss. Const. art. 12, § 253; art. 5, § 124; Miss. Code Ann. §§ 47-7-41, 97-37-5; Mississippi Secretary of State, Disenfranchising Crimes (2025)

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FAQ

How do you restore your rights after a felony in Mississippi?
Restoring rights in Mississippi is not automatic. Voting rights come back in one of three ways: a 'suffrage bill' passed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature (Constitution § 253), a pardon from the Governor (Constitution § 124; the petitioner must first publish the request in a newspaper in the county of the crime for thirty days), or, for someone discharged from probation, an executive order of the Governor after a written request through the field officer (§ 47-7-41), which the Governor may grant in his discretion. Gun rights are restored separately: by a pardon, by federal relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), or by a certificate of rehabilitation that the court of conviction may grant if it finds the person has been rehabilitated, has led a law-abiding life since finishing the sentence, and is not likely to be a danger to public safety.

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.