Can I Vote If Convicted of a Felony? State-by-State Guide

In 48 states, a felony conviction does not permanently cost you the right to vote. Only Maine, Vermont, and D.C. never restrict it at all — but in every other state, the right comes back. The rules differ by state: 23 restore your vote the day you leave prison, 15 more restore it after you finish parole and probation, and 10 require an extra step or impose permanent bars for certain offenses. You must register to vote after your rights are restored — restoration alone does not put you on the voter rolls.

The four categories of state law

State felony disenfranchisement laws fall into four categories. Which one you live in determines when — and whether — your right to vote comes back.

1. Never lose voting rights: Maine, Vermont, D.C.

People with felony convictions never lose the right to vote in Maine, Vermont, or the District of Columbia. You can vote by absentee ballot even while incarcerated. (Sources: Maine Secretary of State; Vermont Secretary of State; U.S. Vote Foundation.)

2. Rights restored on release from incarceration (23 states)

In these states, your voting rights return the moment you are released from prison — even if you are still on parole or probation:

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington.

Key details in this group:

• California — People serving time in county jail can vote; only those in state or federal prison cannot. (Cal. Elec. Code § 2101.)
• Maryland — Rights are restored on release, but a person convicted of buying or selling votes loses the right permanently. (Md. Code, Elec. Law § 3-102.)
• Connecticut — A 2021 law restored voting rights to people on parole. Before that, parolees could not vote.
• Minnesota — A 2023 law restored voting rights to approximately 55,000 people on probation and parole.
• New Mexico — Restored voting rights to over 11,000 people on community supervision.

(Source: Nolo, updated October 31, 2025; Campaign Legal Center, RestoreYourVote.org.)

3. Rights restored after completion of sentence (including parole and probation)

In these states, you must finish your entire sentence — prison, parole, and probation — before your voting rights are restored:

Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Key details:

• Florida — Amendment 4, approved by 65% of voters in November 2018, automatically restores voting rights after completion of all sentence terms, including full payment of fines, fees, costs, and restitution. People convicted of murder or a felony sex offense are permanently barred. (Fla. Stat. § 98.0751; Florida Division of Elections, updated July 2024.)
• Missouri — As of August 28, 2026, voting rights are restored upon release from prison, except for people convicted of election-related felonies. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.133.)
• Oklahoma — As of January 1, 2025, voting rights are restored immediately upon discharge of the full sentence, including any prison, probation, or parole.
• Louisiana — Rights are restored once five years pass without being incarcerated.
• Nebraska — An October 2024 Nebraska Supreme Court ruling confirmed that election officials must accept voter registrations from people who have completed probation and parole.
• North Carolina — Rights are restored upon completion of probation or parole. The North Carolina Supreme Court overruled a lower court opinion that had allowed people on felony probation or parole to vote.
• Texas — Rights are restored upon completion of sentence. If you still owe court costs or fines, contact your county clerk to confirm eligibility.

(Source: Nolo; Campaign Legal Center; Florida Division of Elections.)

4. Permanent restrictions or extra requirements (10 states)

These states impose lasting restrictions or require a separate government action to restore voting rights:

Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming.

• Alabama — You must complete your sentence and then apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (CERV) from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
• Arizona — A person with one felony conviction gets automatic restoration after completing the sentence (including parole, probation, and victim restitution). Multiple felony convictions require a court order. A 2022 law requires obtaining a non-discretionary court order confirming eligibility.
• Iowa — A 2020 executive order by Governor Reynolds automatically restored voting rights to people who completed their sentences, including probation and parole, except those convicted of homicide.
• Kentucky — A December 2019 executive order by Governor Beshear restored rights for non-violent felony convictions after completion of parole and probation. People with violent felony convictions must petition the Governor.
• Mississippi — Permanent disenfranchisement for certain enumerated felonies. Out-of-state or federal convictions are not disqualifying.
• Tennessee — You must complete your sentence (including probation and parole), pay all victim restitution, and petition a court to restore your right to vote. Certain felonies permanently disqualify.
• Virginia — On January 22, 2026, a federal judge ruled that Virginia's felony disenfranchisement scheme largely violates federal law. Starting June 1, 2026, Virginia may no longer deny the right to vote to all people convicted of felonies — only certain felony convictions result in loss of voting rights. A constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to everyone not currently incarcerated will appear on the November 2026 ballot.
• Wyoming — A five-year waiting period after completion of sentence. People convicted of certain violent felonies or multiple felonies not arising from the same event must petition the Governor.

(Source: Nolo; Campaign Legal Center, RestoreYourVote.org; Protect Democracy, federal ruling documentation.)

How to find out if you can vote

The fastest way to confirm your eligibility is RestoreYourVote.org, a free tool by the Campaign Legal Center. It walks you through state-specific questions based on where you live and where you were convicted.

You can also contact your state's election office — usually the Secretary of State's office. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission maintains a directory of state election offices with links and phone numbers.

Have this information ready when you check:

• Your criminal history, including the specific offense and whether it was a state or federal conviction
• The state where you were convicted (if different from where you live now)
• Whether you have completed all sentence terms — prison, parole, probation
• Whether you owe any outstanding fines, fees, or restitution

You must register — restoration is not enough

Even in states with automatic restoration, you still need to register to vote. Your name will not appear on the voter rolls until you do. Restoration removes the legal barrier; registration is the separate step that puts you on the list.

Register through your state's Secretary of State website or Vote.gov. In most states you can register online.

Voter registration deadlines for the 2026 election

The 2026 general election is November 3, 2026. Voter registration deadlines vary by state — most close 15 to 30 days before the election, but some states offer same-day registration:

• Same-day registration states (register and vote on the same day, including Election Day): Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota (no registration required), Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and D.C.
• 15-day deadline: California and others
• 30-day deadline: Texas, Arizona, and others

Check your state's deadline on your Secretary of State's website or through Vote.org. If you miss the deadline in a same-day state, you can still register at the polls.

If you were wrongly denied the right to register or vote

If an election official told you that you cannot register or vote, and you believe your rights have been restored, document what happened immediately:

• What was said — write down the exact words, the date, and the name of the person who told you
• Where it happened — the office, the polling place, or the website
• What you brought — any documents showing your sentence is complete

Wrongful denial of the right to vote is itself a civil rights violation. You can file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (through justice.gov/crt) or with your state's election protection hotline.

Document it before you forget

If this happened to you, the deadline clock is already running. IronRecord lets you document the incident now — timestamped, with evidence attached — and calculates your filing deadline automatically. Free to start, no lawyer required.

Start your free record at ironrecord.org/dashboard

When you're ready, you can share your full documented record with a civil-rights attorney in one click.

---

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. Voting eligibility laws change frequently — always confirm your status with your state election office before registering. If you believe you were wrongly denied the right to vote, contact a civil rights attorney or the Campaign Legal Center.