Can I Vote If I Have a Felony Conviction? (All 50 States)

If you have a felony conviction, you can probably vote. But the rules are a mess. Every state is different. Some let you vote from prison. Some make you jump through hoops. A few permanently ban you. And millions of people who are eligible to vote don't even know it because they assume they can't.

That assumption is exactly what voter suppression looks like. Not a law that says you can't vote—a system that makes you think you can't. According to the Sentencing Project, over 4 million Americans with felony convictions are eligible to vote right now but don't. They've served their time, paid their debt, and had their rights restored. They just don't know it.

This guide breaks down every state's felony voting laws into four categories. Find your state. Check your eligibility. And if you can vote, show up.

"The system counts on you not knowing your rights. When you assume you can't vote, they don't have to stop you. You stop yourself. That's the whole playbook."

Category 1: Vote From Prison (2 States)

These states never take away your right to vote, even if you're currently incarcerated:

Maine and Vermont are the only two states where you can vote from prison. No exceptions. No restrictions. You're a citizen, you get a ballot. Period. Maine even sets up polling places inside prisons. That's how it should work everywhere.

If you live in either of these states, your criminal record has zero impact on your right to vote. Stop reading this section and go register.

Category 2: Automatic Restoration After Sentence (Most States)

In these states, your voting rights are automatically restored once you complete your sentence—including prison, parole, and probation. You don't need to apply, petition, or jump through any hoops. You just re-register to vote.

States with automatic restoration after full sentence: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (as of 2025, via executive order), Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (as of 2024 Supreme Court ruling), Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The key word is "automatically." You don't need a letter, a court order, or a governor's pardon. Once your sentence is done—meaning you're off parole and off probation—your rights come back. Just go register.

Important: In some of these states, you need to re-register. Your old registration doesn't automatically reactivate. Check with your Secretary of State's office or go to vote.gov.

Category 3: Restoration After Parole/Probation (Conditional States)

These states restore your rights, but with conditions—usually after you complete parole or probation, and sometimes only for certain types of offenses:

Florida: Amendment 4 (2018) restored voting rights to most people with felony convictions after they complete their sentence, including parole and probation. BUT the legislature added a requirement that all fines, fees, and restitution must be paid first. If you owe money to the court system, you can't vote until you pay it off. This is a poll tax. Check your status at the Florida Division of Elections website.

Iowa: Governor Reynolds signed an executive order in 2020 restoring voting rights to most people with felony convictions after they complete their sentence. But this is an executive order, not a law—which means a future governor could reverse it. If you're in Iowa, register now before someone changes the rules.

Kentucky: Governor Beshear restored voting rights to most people with felony convictions after they complete their sentence (including parole/probation). Like Iowa, this is an executive order, not a constitutional amendment. Register now.

Mississippi: Mississippi permanently bans voting for people convicted of certain felonies (murder, rape, bribery, etc.). Other felonies don't automatically disenfranchise you, but the law is confusing. Check your specific conviction at the Mississippi Secretary of State's office.

Virginia: Governor Youngkin restored voting rights on a case-by-case basis, rolling back the automatic restoration policy of previous governors. The process now requires an individual application. Check your status at elections.virginia.gov.

Tennessee: Rights are restored after completion of sentence, but you must also pay all court costs and restitution, and obtain a court order or certificate of restoration. It's a multi-step process that is deliberately confusing. Contact the Tennessee Secretary of State for help.

Alabama: Rights restored after completion of sentence, but only for certain felonies. Others require a pardon. Check with the Alabama Secretary of State for your specific conviction.

Category 4: Permanent Ban (Still Disenfranchising Citizens)

No state has a complete lifetime ban on all felony voting anymore. But several states still have restrictions that effectively prevent large numbers of people from ever voting again:

States with the most restrictive felony voting laws:

• Mississippi: Permanent ban for certain offenses (murder, rape, bribery, etc.) unless you receive a governor's pardon or legislative intervention. This affects approximately 50,000 citizens.
• Tennessee: Requires payment of all fines and fees PLUS a court order for rights restoration. Many people never complete this process because they can't afford it or don't know how.
• Florida: Requires payment of all financial obligations before rights are restored. This affects hundreds of thousands of Floridians who can't afford to pay off court debt.

These restrictions are not accidental. They are designed to keep people who have already served their time from participating in democracy. If you're in one of these states and you've completed your sentence, check your eligibility. You might have more rights than you think.

How to Check Your Status

If you have a felony conviction and you're not sure whether you can vote, here's what to do:

1. Go to vote.gov. Select your state and follow the registration process. If you're eligible, you can register right there. If there's a restriction, the site will tell you.

2. Contact your Secretary of State. Every state has an elections office that can tell you whether your specific conviction affects your voting rights. Call them. Email them. Show up in person if you have to.

3. Contact a voting rights organization. The Sentencing Project (sentencingproject.org), the ACLU, and the Brennan Center for Justice all have resources to help you determine your eligibility and navigate the restoration process.

4. Don't self-disenfranchise. The number one reason eligible voters with felony convictions don't vote is that they assume they can't. Check before you write yourself off.

The Bottom Line

Over 4 million Americans with felony convictions are eligible to vote right now but don't. That's not because they can't—it's because they think they can't. The system relies on your ignorance. Don't give it that satisfaction.

Check your state. If you have questions, contact your local election office. If you have a criminal record, your vote is your right. Exercise it.

Show up or shut up.