In the so-called “Bible Belt” of America, where organized religion often teaches that Jesus died for all, an unsettling contradiction lingers—both in faith and law. The U.S. Constitution begins with the words “We the people,” promising justice for all. Yet for poor, Black, Brown, and other marginalized groups, this remains an elusive reality, particularly in states like Mississippi where people with felony convictions are banned for life from voting, despite having paid their debt to society. These individuals, who must still pay taxes and meet other obligations of citizenship, are denied the very right that defines democracy—participation in the electoral process.
The glaring disparity in how justice is applied is evident. Consider a man running for the highest office in the land, burdened with 34 felony charges and several pending cases, yet still able to vote, travel, and live life without restriction. Meanwhile, countless Mississippians, who have already served their sentences, are barred from voting for life. This disparity highlights a broken system that seems to favor the privileged while stripping others of fundamental rights.
In July 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an earlier ruling that had deemed Mississippi’s lifetime voting ban a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. While this offered hope for tens of thousands of disenfranchised Mississippians, the state quickly appealed, delaying justice once again. A final decision is expected in early 2025, but the fact remains: Mississippi—rooted in a legacy of disenfranchisement dating back to its 1890 constitution—continues to punish its citizens long after their time has been served.
The original intent behind Mississippi’s voting laws was as clear as it was sinister: to suppress Black voters. White lawmakers specifically chose crimes they believed Black men were more likely to commit. Over time, these laws have evolved but not in ways that truly dismantle their racist roots. Today, 90% of those affected by the lifetime voting ban in Mississippi are no longer incarcerated, yet their ability to participate in democracy remains stifled.
What is perhaps most troubling is the national trend against such disenfranchisement. As the appeals court noted, a “national consensus” has emerged, with 35 states and Washington, D.C., moving away from lifetime voting bans. Mississippi remains one of the few holdouts, and it is one of only 11 states that continue to strip individuals of their voting rights for life for crimes unrelated to elections or governance. Even now, over 10% of the state’s voting-age population is excluded from the polls, with Black citizens disproportionately impacted.
This is not just a legal issue, but a moral one. Advocates across the country have fought for decades to restore voting rights through court cases and public campaigns. In the past 50 years, states have steadily moved away from lifetime bans—not by court orders but through the will of the people, governors, and legislatures. Yet Mississippi resists, and its residents suffer.
The need for change is urgent, and it is time for Mississippi to join the national trend towards justice. Lifetime disenfranchisement not only violates our Constitution, but it also violates the very principles of fairness and redemption that should underpin our democracy. Every Mississippian deserves a voice in shaping the future of their state, and it is time for lawmakers to act.
The Fifth Circuit’s ruling should set the precedent for the rest of the nation, ending this cruel and outdated practice. Mississippi must restore the right to vote for its people—not just for the privileged few, but for all who have served their time and fulfilled their obligations. The right to vote is not just about casting a ballot; it is about belonging to the community, participating in democracy, and being recognized as a full citizen in the land of the free.