Mississippi
Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era practice of removing voting rights from people convicted of certain felonies, including nonviolent crimes such as forgery and timber theft, attorneys say in new court papers.
Most of the people affected are disenfranchised for life because the state provides few options for restoring ballot access.
“Mississippi’s harsh and unforgiving felony disenfranchisement scheme is a national outlier,” attorneys representing some who lost voting rights said in an appeal filed Wednesday. They wrote that states “have consistently moved away from lifetime felony disenfranchisement over the past few decades.”
This case is the second in recent years — and the third since the late 19th century — that asks the Supreme Court to overturn Mississippi’s disenfranchisement for some felonies. The cases use different legal arguments, and the court rejected the most recent attempt in 2023.
The new appeal asks justices to reverse a July ruling from the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Mississippi legislators, not the courts, must decide whether to change the laws.
Stripping away voting rights for some crimes is unconstitutional because it is cruel and unusual punishment, the appeal argues. A majority of justices rejected arguments over cruel and unusual punishment in June when they cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places.
Attorneys who sued Mississippi over voting rights say the authors of the state’s 1890 constitution based disenfranchisement on a list of crimes they thought Black people were more likely to commit. A majority of the appeals judges wrote that the Supreme Court in 1974 reaffirmed constitutional law allowing states to disenfranchise felons.
About 38% of Mississippi residents are Black. Nearly 50,000 people were disenfranchised under the state’s felony voting ban between 1994 and 2017. More than 29,000 of them have completed their sentences, and about 58% of that group are Black, according to an expert who analyzed data for plaintiffs challenging the voting ban.
To regain voting rights in Mississippi, a person convicted of a disenfranchising crime must receive a governor’s pardon or win permission from two-thirds of the state House and Senate. In recent years, legislators have restored voting rights for only a few people.
The other recent case that went to the Supreme Court argued that authors of Mississippi’s constitution showed racist intent when they chose which felonies would cause people to lose the right to vote.
In that ruling, justices declined to reconsider a 2022 appeals court decision that said Mississippi remedied the discriminatory intent of the original provisions in the state constitution by later altering the list of disenfranchising crimes.
In 1950, Mississippi dropped burglary from the list. Murder and rape were added in 1968. The Mississippi attorney general issued an opinion in 2009 that expanded the list to 22 crimes, including timber larceny, carjacking, felony-level shoplifting and felony-level writing bad checks.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a 2023 dissent that Mississippi’s list of disenfranchising crimes was “adopted for an illicit discriminatory purpose.”
Originally Published:
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 12, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 12 drawing
12-14-17-25-27
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 12 drawing
Midday: 0-1-2, FB: 3
Evening: 4-2-3, FB: 6
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 12 drawing
Midday: 2-7-9-1, FB: 3
Evening: 7-3-4-5, FB: 6
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 12 drawing
Midday: 12
Evening: 04
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Many of the future stars of college football will be competing in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic on Saturday afternoon on the campus of the University of Southern Miss in Hattiesburg.
Alabama Crimson Tide signees are expected to be among the headliners, with six total players (four for Alabama, two for Mississippi) competing in the game. Auburn’s representation was greatly reduced by injuries. The Tigers are left with one player representing Alabama after Saraland receiver DeShawn Spencer, Wadley linebacker Jaquez Wilkes and Petal defensive lineman Corey Wells were late scratches from the game.
Best in Bama Top 50
Players from the game are headed to four of the 12 teams in the College Football Playoffs, including Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Alabama.
The game will kick off at noon on Saturday and will be broadcast across the state on Alabama Public Television.
Here are seven players to be on the lookout for during the matchup.
ALABAMA
CD Morgan, wide receiver, Benjamin Russell (jersey No. 1)
There likely will not be a player on the field who looks more SEC-ready than the 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver. Are the comparisons to former Foley, Alabama and NFL star Julio Jones fair? This will be the biggest stage so far for Morgan to begin justifying the lofty and unfair comparisons.
DJ Broughton, tight end, Mary G. Montgomery, (No. 15)
Broughton was one of the catalysts for a remarkable turnaround for Class 7A Mary G. Montgomery, along with all-star teammate and Mississippi State signee Kaleb Morris (No. 0).
After being a longtime commit to South Florida, Broughton will forever be remembered as the first Auburn commit of the Alex Golesh era.
EJ Crowell, running back, Jackson, (No. 13)
The hype could not be any higher for Crowell, who is the most celebrated back to sign with the Crimson Tide since Derrick Henry. Like Henry, Crowell will have to learn the nuances of the position before becoming a major contributor in college. But the talent when Crowell has the ball in his hands is undeniable.
Brock Bradley, quarterback, Spain Park, (No. 7)
The Alabama squad should be in good shape with two pocket-passer quarterbacks who are athletic enough to make plays on the run. Bradley is a longtime pledge to the Clemson Tigers. He will share the position with his future in-state rival Landon Duckworth (No. 3), who will play for South Carolina after leading Jackson to back-to-back state championships.
Mhari Johnson, defensive lineman, Muscle Shoals, (No. 9)
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive lineman was a catalyst for one of the stiffest defenses in the state at Muscle Shoals. He could be a strong candidate for early playing time with the Crimson Tide.
While Johnson is expected to be one of the top playmakers on the defensive line, look for Central-Phenix City linebacker and Jacksonville State signee Tristan Lyle (No. 19) and Gadsden City defensive back and Alabama signee Zyan Gibson (No. 5) to also be defensive leaders.
MISSISSIPPI
JJ Hill, running back, Tupelo (No. 0)
Hill is the younger brother of Alabama’s Daniel Hill. Both are bruising backs. The younger Hill is 25 pounds lighter than his brother, but he’s still listed at 6-feet, 220 pounds. Hill will share the backfield with Gulfport’s Cooper Crosby (No. 6). Crosby was likely headed for Auburn before the Tigers made a coaching change. He will now play for Mississippi State. Tupelo and Gulfport squared off in a wild state championship game a week ago, with Gulfport scoring on a Hail Mary pass and extra point at the end of the game to win. Now the two backs who starred in that game will be all-star teammates before playing together at Mississippi State.
Bryson Cooley, offensive lineman, West Jones (jersey No. 63)
Securing Cooley late in the recruiting process was a huge win for Alabama. He is one of two future Tide players on the Mississippi roster, joining defensive lineman Nolan Smith (No. 34) of Picayune Memorial.
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 11, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 11 drawing
01-10-12-20-28
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 11 drawing
Midday: 4-5-1, FB: 4
Evening: 2-5-4, FB: 4
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 11 drawing
Midday: 9-0-0-7, FB: 4
Evening: 1-7-0-0, FB: 4
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 11 drawing
Midday: 08
Evening: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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