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11% of Mississippians can't vote because they've been convicted of disenfranchising felonies – the highest percentage of any state.
16% of Black Mississippians can't vote because they've been convicted of disenfranchising felonies – third highest. https://mississippitoday.org/2020/10/19/study-11-of-all-mississippians-16-of-black-mississippians-cant-vote-because-of-felony-convictions/
16% of Black Mississippians can't vote because they've been convicted of disenfranchising felonies – third highest. https://mississippitoday.org/2020/10/19/study-11-of-all-mississippians-16-of-black-mississippians-cant-vote-because-of-felony-convictions/
Of the 11% of Mississippians who are disenfranchised, 61% are Black. Strange, considering Black Mississippians make up just 36% of total voting age population. https://mississippitoday.org/2018/02/22/racial-disparity-conspicuous-among-mississippians-banned-voting/
Surprised by that last tweet? Don't be.
62% of incarcerated Mississippians are Black, while 37% are white. Strange, considering Black Mississippians make up 38% of the state's total population and white Mississippians 59%. I digress.
https://www.mdoc.ms.gov/Admin-Finance/MonthlyFacts/2019-12%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
62% of incarcerated Mississippians are Black, while 37% are white. Strange, considering Black Mississippians make up 38% of the state's total population and white Mississippians 59%. I digress.
https://www.mdoc.ms.gov/Admin-Finance/MonthlyFacts/2019-12%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
The disenfranchising felonies (below) were written into the state constitution, which was drafted in 1890.
Who wrote the 1890 constitution? Racist whites who had recently regained power post-Reconstruction and were set on ensuring Black Mississippians couldn't vote.
Who wrote the 1890 constitution? Racist whites who had recently regained power post-Reconstruction and were set on ensuring Black Mississippians couldn't vote.
Four years ago, Mississippi did not have the highest felony disenfranchisement percentage in the nation. It does now because other states have recently changed policy and restored voting rights for felons. Mississippi hasn't. https://mississippitoday.org/2020/10/19/study-11-of-all-mississippians-16-of-black-mississippians-cant-vote-because-of-felony-convictions/
Democrats have filed many bills to do so. They all die. Why won't Republican leaders restore voting rights to 235,150 disenfranchised felons?
Consider 2019 GOP leaders' wins by raw vote:
Gov. Tate Reeves: +45,028
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann: +175,130
Speaker Philip Gunn*: +2,870
Consider 2019 GOP leaders' wins by raw vote:
Gov. Tate Reeves: +45,028
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann: +175,130
Speaker Philip Gunn*: +2,870
It's hard not to wonder what Mississippi election results would regularly look like if our elected officials followed the lead of most other states.
But I suppose that's the whole point.
But I suppose that's the whole point.
