All rights guides
Voting Rights Act · 52 U.S.C. §10101 · 42 U.S.C. §1983

Voting Rights After Felony — know your rights

In 48 states, a felony conviction does not permanently cost you the right to vote. Only Maine, Vermont, and D.C. never restrict it. In every other state, the right comes back — but the rules differ by state. You must register to vote after your rights are restored.

Your rights

  • Voting rights restoration after release in 23 states (automatic)
  • No permanent loss in 38 states — rights return after sentence completion
  • The right to confirm your eligibility through RestoreYourVote.org
  • Protection from being wrongly denied registration when your rights are restored

How to file with RestoreYourVote.org

No fixed filing deadline — confirm eligibility before registering. If wrongly denied the right to vote, document the incident immediately and contact the DOJ Civil Rights Division.

How to document it

  • Confirm your eligibility through RestoreYourVote.org before registering
  • Keep any written denial from an election official — it is evidence
  • Note the exact date, office, and name of anyone who told you that you cannot vote
  • Wrongful denial of the right to vote is itself a civil rights violation — document it on IronRecord

Document it before you forget the details

Memory fades and deadlines pass. IronRecord timestamps and encrypts your evidence, counts down your filing window, and generates a court-ready report in one click. Free to start.

Start documenting — free

Guides on voting rights after felony

Other rights guides

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by state and change over time; confirm details for your situation with a civil rights attorney. IronRecord uses conservative deadline estimates so you file with time to spare.