Can felons vote?
What states have voter rights for felons?
When can convicted felons vote again?
How can felons restore their voting rights?
You’ll learn about all this in this article.
Let’s dig in.
The majority of states in the U.S. do not allow felons to vote.
All but three states disenfranchise felon voting rights while they are in prison.
Only a handful of states in the U.S. permanently disenfranchise voting rights for felons.
Most of the U.S. allows restoration of voting rights upon completion of a prison sentence.
Another majority of states restore voting rights after completing a sentence.
A “sentence” in this instance means they have completed:
Felons can vote in the U.S. as long as they complete their sentences.
Most people get told that they cannot vote as a felon in the U.S.
These individuals make up 58% of the disenfranchised population.
The disenfranchised population is 5.2 million Americans.
This makes up 3.02 million people in the U.S.
These felons cannot vote even though they have completed their sentences.
English colonists brought with them the common law of “civil death.”
This was a set of criminal penalties, including revocation of voting rights.
Early colonists limited the revocations to felonies of moral turpitude.
After the American Revolution, colonists changed these laws.
And they made the penalty for all felonies permanent disenfranchisement.
Later, the southern states changed their felony disenfranchisement laws.
This time, they got tailored to target felonies most committed by the black voters.
For example, Mississippi had permanent disenfranchisement for:
But not for felonies related to robbery or murder.
Alabama disenfranchised felonies for a man beating his wife.
But not for killing his wife.
Their belief was that this would disenfranchise 60% of the black male population.
It’s common in the U.S. that felons can’t vote.
The severity of felons losing voting rights varies by state.
Some states don’t take away voting rights from felons.
While felons lose voting rights permanently in other states.
So, why can’t felons vote and use their civil rights?
The general belief is this.
If you can’t follow the law, you shouldn’t have the ability to vote to change the law.
Even if felons don’t directly vote on laws, they vote for lawmakers.
Governments also aim to hold a standard to the people voting.
Felons committing serious crimes don’t meet those standards.
These include violent and non-violent felonies committed by felons.
Crimes like:
Convicted felons cannot vote.
Felons lose their voting rights in all states.
Some states permanently strip felons of their civil rights to vote on election day.
But most states allow felons to regain their right to vote.
In these states, the restoration of voting rights depends on them completing their sentences.
Within these states, some states allow felons to vote:
“Sentences” can be prison, parole, or probation.
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Felony disenfranchisement is not allowing someone to vote because of a felony.
It’s a form of voter suppression.
Disenfranchisement began in colonial times.
But, felony disenfranchisement got modernized after the Civil War.
When the constitutional amendments granted the right to vote to Black men.
Disenfranchisement laws got promoted along with:
These were all designed to prevent Black voters from accessing the ballot.
Each state has different disenfranchisement laws.
And each state varies on whether felonies can vote. Each state has different voting laws on:
This confusing system makes it hard for felons to vote.
Disenfranchisement laws don’t apply to misdemeanors.
People with misdemeanors can still vote on election days.
So, when can convicted felons vote again?
It varies from state to state.
Some states:
Where allowed, felons can reach out to their secretary of state about their voting rights.
Below, you can see the laws surrounding the laws on voting for felons in each state.
In most states, the restoration of voting rights happens after the completion of their sentence.
And there is normally automatic restoration of their voting rights.
But there are states where felons’ rights are not immediately restored.
Some states make felons wait two years up to five years before their rights are restored.
There are four main categories for how states handle felon voting rights.
There are states where felons keep their voting rights.
Felons can vote in Maine no matter what.
Felons never lose their right to vote in Maine.
Even while they are in prison serving a sentence, they can still vote in Maine.
Felons can vote in Vermont no matter what.
Felons never lose their right to vote in Vermont.
Even while they are in prison serving a sentence, they can still vote in Vermont.
Felons can vote in the District of Columbia no matter what.
Felons never lose their right to vote in the District of Columbia.
Even if they are serving a prison sentence.
Even while they are in prison serving a sentence, they can still vote in the District of Columbia.
There are states where felony voting rights get restored when released from prison.
Felons cannot vote in California until they have completed their prison sentence.
Felons cannot vote who are in:
Felons can regain their right to vote in California after serving their sentences.
But, in California, people with a criminal history can vote if they are:
Let’s say you don’t lose, or you regain, your voting rights in California.
You still have to register to vote in California.
The timeline for felony voting rights in California is:
Felons cannot vote in Colorado if they are in prison.
Felons can vote in Colorado as long as they are not serving a prison sentence.
After completion of the prison sentence, you regain your right to vote in Colorado.
The timeline for felony voting rights in Colorado is:
After regaining the right to vote, felons still need to register to vote in Colorado.
You can register with the Colorado Secretary of State.
Felons cannot vote in Connecticut until they complete their prison sentences.
Felons on parole or probation can vote in Connecticut.
Once voting rights get restored, felons need to register to vote in Connecticut.
The timeline for felony voting rights in Connecticut is:
Felons cannot vote in Hawaii until they have completed their prison sentences.
Felons can vote in Hawaii if they are on probation or parole.
Once felons regain their rights to vote in Hawaii, they need to register to vote.
The timeline for felony voting rights in Hawaii is:
Felons cannot vote in Illinois until they complete their prison sentences.
But felons on parole or probation can vote in Illinois.
Once their prison sentence is complete, felons need to register to vote in Illinois.
The timeline for felony voting rights in Illinois is:
Felons cannot vote in Indiana until they complete their prison sentences.
Individuals in prison for a felony conviction lose their voting rights in Indiana.
But, those on parole or probation are still able to vote in Indiana.
Once your prison sentence gets completed, you regain your voting rights.
But you still need to register to vote in Indiana.
Felons cannot vote in Maryland until they complete their prison sentence.
Felons can vote if they are on parole or probation in Maryland.
Felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights when they get done with prison.
But, in Maryland, felons need to register to vote with the Secretary of State.
Criminal adults in Maryland can vote if they:
The timeline for felony voting rights in Maryland is:
Felons cannot vote in Massachusetts until they complete their prison sentence.
Felons can vote if they are on parole or probation in Massachusetts.
Felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights when they get done with prison.
But, in Massachusetts, felons need to register to vote with the Secretary of State.
Felons cannot vote in Michigan if they are in prison.
But they can vote while they are awaiting their sentencing.
And they regain their rights to vote after they complete their prison sentence.
Felons in Michigan can vote if they are on probation or parole.
They will need to register to vote in Michigan.
Felons cannot vote in Montana.
But only if they are in prison.
Felons can vote in Montana if they are not in prison.
This means they still have not lost their civil rights if they:
In Montana, felons regain their voting rights after the completion of their sentences.
But felons still have to register to vote in Montana.
Felons cannot vote in New Hampshire if they are in prison.
Felons can vote in New Hampshire as long as they are not serving a prison sentence.
After completion of the prison sentence, you regain your right to vote in New Hampshire.
After regaining the right to vote, felons still need to register to vote in New Hampshire.
You can register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
Felons cannot vote in New Jersey until they complete their prison sentence.
Felons can vote if they are on parole or probation in New Jersey.
Felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights when they get done with prison.
But, in New Jersey, felons need to register to vote with the Secretary of State.
Criminal adults in New Jersey can vote if they:
Felons cannot vote in New York until they have completed their prison sentence.
Felons cannot vote who are in:
Felons can regain their right to vote in New York after serving their sentences.
But, in New York, people with a criminal history can vote if they are:
Let’s say you don’t lose, or you regain, your voting rights in New York.
You still have to register to vote in New York.
Felons cannot vote in Nevada until they complete their prison sentences.
Individuals in prison for a felony conviction lose their voting rights in Nevada.
But, those on parole or probation are still able to vote in Nevada.
Once your prison sentence gets completed, you regain your voting rights.
But you still need to register to vote in Nevada.
Felons cannot vote in North Dakota if they are in prison.
Felons can vote in North Dakota as long as they are not serving a prison sentence.
After completion of the prison sentence, you regain your right to vote in North Dakota.
After regaining the right to vote, felons still need to register to vote in North Dakota.
You can register with the North Dakota Secretary of State.
Felons cannot vote in Ohio until they have completed their prison sentence.
Felons cannot vote who are in:
Felons can regain their right to vote in Ohio after serving their sentences.
But, not if they have committed voter fraud.
Voter fraud leads to permanent disenfranchisement in Ohio.
But, in Ohio, people with a criminal history can vote if they are:
Let’s say you don’t lose, or you regain, your voting rights in Ohio.
You still have to register to vote in Ohio.
Felons cannot vote in Oregon until they complete their prison sentence.
Felons can vote if they are on parole or probation in Oregon.
Felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights when they get done with prison.
But, in Oregon, felons need to register to vote with the Secretary of State.
Criminal adults in Oregon can vote if they:
Felons cannot vote in Pennsylvania until they complete their prison sentences.
Individuals in prison for a felony conviction lose their voting rights in Pennsylvania.
But, those on parole or probation are still able to vote in Pennsylvania.
Once your prison sentence gets completed, you regain your voting rights.
But you still need to register to vote in Pennsylvania.
Felons cannot vote in Rhode Island until they complete their prison sentence.
Felons can vote if they are on parole or probation in Rhode Island.
Felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights when they get done with prison.
But, in Rhode Island, felons need to register to vote with the Secretary of State.
Felons cannot vote in Utah until they complete their prison sentence.
Felons can vote if they are on parole or probation in Utah.
Felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights when they get done with prison.
But, in Utah, felons need to register to vote with the Secretary of State.
Criminal adults in Utah can vote if they:
Felons cannot vote in Virginia.
But only if they are in prison.
Felons can vote in Virginia if they are not in prison.
This means they still have not lost their civil rights if they:
In Virginia, felons regain their voting rights after the completion of their sentences.
But felons still have to register to vote in Virginia.
In other states, felony voting rights get restored after completion of their sentence.
This includes prison, parole, and probation.
Felons cannot vote in Georgia while in prison, on parole, or on probation.
Automatic restoration of voting rights happens when they are released from supervision.
But, even with the automatic restoration of voting rights, they need to re-register to vote.
Felons cannot vote in Idaho until they get released from the department of corrections.
“Department of corrections” includes prison, on parole, or on probation.
Automatic restoration of voting rights happens when they are released from supervision.
But, even with the automatic restoration of voting rights, they need to re-register to vote.
Felons cannot vote in Iowa while in prison, on parole, or on probation.
Governor Reynolds signed an executive order on August 5th, 2020.
This executive order gives automatic restoration of voting rights to felons.
But only after they get released from the department of corrections.
Automatic restorations don’t apply to chapter 707 crimes.
Gov Reynolds excludes crimes related to homicides and felony sexual offenses.
Restoring the right to vote for these felonies is permanently disenfranchised.
But, those who don’t qualify for automatic restoration can apply for it.
Convicted felons should re-register to vote after the felony sentence is up.
Felons cannot vote in Kansas.
At least, while they are:
Automatic restoration of voting rights does happen.
But only after completion of their sentence.
They need to fill out a voter registration form for Kansas.
This way, they can get their civil rights back after their felony sentence.
Felons cannot vote in Louisiana as of 2019.
They have to wait five years after the completion of their sentence.
Their “sentence” can include prison, parole, or probation.
Automatic restoration of felony voting rights happens after five years in Louisiana.
But, you still have to register to vote after this five-year period.
Felons cannot vote in Minnesota.
After completion of their sentence in prison, on parole, or on probation, they can vote.
Automatic restoration of their civil rights to vote happens upon completion.
But, felons have to apply for voter registration after they complete their sentences in Minnesota.
Felons cannot vote in Missouri until the completion of their sentence.
They have to complete their time in prison, on parole, or on probation.
After that, they can regain their rights to vote.
But they still have to go through the voter registration process in Missouri.
Nebraska used to have lifetime felony disenfranchisement laws.
The restoration of voting rights happened in 2005.
Nebraska replaced their permanent disenfranchisement with a two-year waiting period.
Repealed lifetime disenfranchisement, replaced with a two-year waiting period.
This is two years after the completion of their sentence.
And their “sentence” includes any parole term.
Felons cannot vote in New Mexico until they complete their sentences.
“Completion of their sentence” means prison, parole, and probation.
Once completed, they have automatic restoration of their voting rights.
But, felons still need to register to vote in New Mexico.
Felons cannot vote in North Carolina until they complete their sentences.
North Carolina requires felons to finish prison, parole, or probation.
After that, they automatically get their voting rights reinstated.
They will still have to register to vote in North Carolina.
Felons cannot vote in Oklahoma without finishing their sentences.
These “sentences” are prison, parole, and probation for the department of corrections.
Upon completion of their sentence, they get a restoration of voting rights in Oklahoma.
Then, they will have to register to vote in Oklahoma to regain their civil rights.
Felons cannot vote in South Carolina until they complete their sentences.
South Carolina requires felons to finish prison, parole, or probation.
After that, they automatically get their voting rights reinstated.
They will still have to register to vote in South Carolina.
Felons cannot vote in South Dakota unless they complete their sentences.
After completion of their sentence, they gain their civil right to vote again.
These sentences include prison, parole, or probation.
But, they still need to register to vote in South Dakota.
Felons cannot vote in Texas.
The only way that felons can vote in Texas is if they:
Texas felons get automatic restoration of their voting rights.
But, they still have to register to vote to regain their civil rights in Texas.
Felons cannot vote in Washington until the completion of their sentences.
Their “sentences” are prison, parole, and probation.
Felons in Washington get their voting rights back when they complete these.
But, they still need to register to vote.
Felons can’t vote in Washington until they complete their voter registration.
Felons cannot vote in West Virginia.
They have to complete their sentences from the department of corrections.
Then, felons in West Virginia automatically get their voting rights back.
After this, they can register to vote in West Virginia.
And then felons can vote in West Virginia again.
Felons cannot vote in Wisconsin until they complete their sentencing.
“Sentencing” refers to their time in prison, on parole, or on probation for felonies.
They can regain their voting rights in Wisconsin after the completion of their sentences.
Then, felons in Wisconsin can register to vote again.
Felons cannot vote in Alaska until they complete their sentences.
And have been unconditionally discharged by the Department of Corrections.
But for some crimes, felons can vote during their sentences.
This means they can vote while in prison, on parole, or on probation.
The crimes that are ineligible for voting during the sentences are:
For either scenario, felons need to register to vote in Alaska.
Felons cannot vote in Arkansas until they complete their sentences.
For Arkansas, the sentences include prison, parole, and probation.
You have to complete these sentences with the Department of Corrections.
Then, you can register to vote in Arkansas with the Secretary of State.
There are states where restoring the right to vote depends on several things. These are the:
These states include:
Felons cannot vote in Alabama.
This applies to everyone who has committed any of the 46 crimes of “moral turpitude.”
Restoring the right to vote is possible on some of these non-violent felonies.
And you can get your rights back after the completion of your sentences.
But some felonies require a full pardon in Alabama.
Let’s say your criminal charges are not on the “moral turpitude” list.
In this case, you won’t lose your right to vote in Alabama.
If you still have your right to vote, you have to register to vote in Alabama.
Felons cannot vote in Arizona until they complete their sentences.
In Arizona, these sentences include prison sentences, parole, and probation.
Automatic restoration of voting rights happens upon completion.
But you still have to register to vote in Arizona.
This only applies to first-time felony convictions in Arizona, though.
Let’s say you get another felony in Arizona.
Two or more felonies require a pardon to get your voting rights back.
You’ll have to petition the Federal Courts to regain your civil rights.
Felons cannot vote in Florida until they complete their sentences.
These “sentences” in Florida include:
But, Florida has permanent felony disenfranchisement for felony convictions of:
The timeline for felony voting laws in Florida includes:
Even after meeting these requirements, felons still need to register to vote in Florida.
Felons cannot vote in Delaware until they complete their sentences.
A “sentence” in Delaware is the completion of:
Prior to 2013, felons had to wait five years after their sentence was complete to vote.
The Hazel D. Plant Voter Restoration Act in April of 2013 eliminated the five-year period.
Now, felony voting rights get restored immediately upon completion of their sentence.
But, they still need to register to vote in Delaware.
There are felonies that lead to permanent disenfranchisement in Delaware, though.
These felony convictions include:
This disenfranchisement can only get revoked by a pardon by the Federal Courts.
Felons cannot vote in Kentucky unless they:
A felon cannot vote in Kentucky while in prison, on parole, or on probation.
After they complete their sentence, they automatically regain their voting rights.
But only if they have not committed certain felony crimes.
These crimes, under Gov Beshear, include:
Felony disenfranchisement is permanent if you have committed these crimes.
But, otherwise, you can regain your right to vote in Kentucky.
And you will need to register to vote to have a say on election days.
The timeline for Kentucky’s felony voting laws is:
Felons cannot vote in Mississippi depending on the type of felony they have.
Felonies that lead to permanent disenfranchisement in Mississippi are:
Disenfranchisement for these types of felonies requires a pardon from the governor.
Only a pardon can restore a felony’s voting rights in Mississippi for these felony convictions.
But, what about other felony convictions in Mississippi?
All other felons can vote in Mississippi after completing their sentences.
But, they need to register to vote to regain their right to vote in Mississippi.
Felons cannot vote in Tennessee without:
These apply to felony convictions in:
Some felonies in Tennessee lead to permanent disenfranchisement.
And felons cannot ever regain their voting rights.
These include:
All other felony convictions can regain their right to vote.
But only after they complete their sentencing of prison, parole, or probation.
Then, you still have to register to vote in Tenessee.
Felons cannot vote in Wyoming unless their voting rights get restored.
You lose your voting rights in Wyoming unit the completion of your sentence.
This includes prison sentences, parole, and probation.
After this, you automatically regain your voting rights in Wyoming.
But, only if it’s a first-time felony conviction in Wyoming.
Or it’s a non-violent felony in Wyoming.
But, you still have to register to vote.
You’ll have to get a pardon from the Gov of Wyoming if you have a:
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