{"title":"Voting rights after a felony conviction, by state","publisher":"Second Chance Index","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights","license":{"name":"Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"attribution":"Second Chance Index (https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights)","note":"General rules from each state's law and election office. Not legal advice; confirm with the state or county election office.","last_verified":"2026-10-30","states":[{"state":"Alabama","code":"AL","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Alabama, only a conviction for a felony on the state's list of crimes involving moral turpitude takes away the right to vote; other felony convictions do not. People with a listed conviction do not get the vote back on their own: they must apply to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (CERV), which requires having paid the fines, court costs, fees and victim restitution ordered at sentencing, or obtain a pardon that restores voting rights. People convicted of certain offenses, including murder, rape, sodomy, several sexual and child-exploitation offenses, impeachment and treason, cannot get a CERV.","in_prison":"depends","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"application","restoration_detail":"Only a felony listed in Ala. Code § 17-3-30.1(c), or an equivalent federal or out-of-state crime, disqualifies a voter; an attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit a listed crime also counts (§ 17-3-30.1(d)), and § 17-3-30.1(f) says the listed felonies are the only felonies that can disqualify. County boards of registrars remove people convicted of a listed felony from the voter list (§ 17-4-3). A person with a listed conviction (other than an offense excluded from the CERV) may apply to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for a CERV on Form ABPP-4. Under Ala. Code § 15-22-36.1 and Ala. Admin. Code r. 640-X-7-.02, the CERV is granted (within 44 days, under the rule) to an applicant who: lost the right to vote because of a conviction in a state or federal court; has no felony charges pending in any state or federal court; has paid all fines, court costs, fees and victim restitution ordered by the sentencing court at the time of sentencing on the disqualifying convictions; and has been released on completion of the sentence, has been pardoned, or has completed probation or parole and been released from compliance. Applying for a CERV does not affect the right to apply to the Board for a pardon with restoration of voting rights (§ 15-22-36.1(h)). The CERV certifies eligibility to register, so the person then registers to vote.","fines_and_fees":"required","fines_and_fees_detail":"To receive a CERV, a person must have paid all fines, court costs, fees and victim restitution ordered by the sentencing court at the time of sentencing on the disqualifying cases (Ala. Code § 15-22-36.1(a)(3); the rule, as amended in 2026, says 'disqualifying convictions').","lost_for_good_for":["impeachment","murder","rape in any degree","sodomy in any degree","sexual abuse in any degree","incest","sexual torture","enticing a child to enter a vehicle for immoral purposes","soliciting a child by computer","production of obscene matter involving a minor","production of obscene matter","parents or guardians permitting children to engage in obscene matter","possession of obscene matter","possession with intent to distribute child pornography","treason"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2026-09-14","detail":"The Board of Pardons and Paroles amended the CERV rule, Ala. Admin. Code r. 640-X-7-.02 (adopted July 15, 2026; published July 31, 2026; effective September 14, 2026; operative October 1, 2026). Its notice describes the change as clarifying the rule's language on disqualifying convictions; the payment condition now refers to amounts ordered at sentencing on 'disqualifying convictions' instead of 'disqualifying cases'. Before that, the list itself was expanded: the Code's history note lists Act 2024-341 as the latest amendment to § 17-3-30.1, and the enrolled 2024 House Bill 100, which amends that section and took effect October 1, 2024, added aggravated stalking, domestic violence in the first and second degree and by strangulation or suffocation, elder abuse, compelling streetgang membership and felonies against election officials to the list, and made attempts, conspiracies and solicitations to commit listed crimes disqualifying.","source":{"url":"https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/640-X-7-.02","title":"Alabama Administrative Code, Rule 640-X-7-.02, Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (current text and history)","publisher":"Alabama Legislative Services Agency (Alabama Administrative Code)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/register-to-vote","title":"Alabama Secretary of State: Register to Vote (refers people with a disqualifying felony to the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Ala. Code § 17-3-30.1 (Felony Voter Disqualification Act)","url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=17-3-30.1"},{"cite":"Ala. Code § 15-22-36.1 (Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote)","url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=15-22-36.1"},{"cite":"Ala. Code § 15-22-36(a), (c) (pardons; restoration of civil and political rights)","url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=15-22-36"},{"cite":"Ala. Code § 17-4-3 (removal of disqualified electors)","url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=17-4-3"},{"cite":"Ala. Admin. Code r. 640-X-7-.02 (Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote)","url":"https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/640-X-7-.02"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=17-3-30.1","title":"Code of Alabama § 17-3-30.1, Disqualification of Electors for Felonies Involving Moral Turpitude","publisher":"Alabama Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=15-22-36.1","title":"Code of Alabama § 15-22-36.1, Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote","publisher":"Alabama Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=15-22-36","title":"Code of Alabama § 15-22-36, Authority to Grant Pardons and Paroles, Remit Fines and Forfeitures","publisher":"Alabama Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=17-4-3","title":"Code of Alabama § 17-4-3, County Board of Registrars to Purge Disqualified Electors","publisher":"Alabama Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/640-X-7-.02","title":"Alabama Administrative Code, Rule 640-X-7-.02, Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote","publisher":"Alabama Legislative Services Agency (Alabama Administrative Code)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/filing/6a0c767404123740b8e6ac5b/filing","title":"Notice of Intended Action, Rule 640-X-7-.02 (filed May 20, 2026)","publisher":"Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, via the Alabama Administrative Code","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/filing/6a0c767404123740b8e6ac5c/filing","title":"Certification of Administrative Rules, Rule 640-X-7-.02 (adopted and filed July 15, 2026)","publisher":"Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, via the Alabama Administrative Code","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2024RS/HB100-enr.pdf","title":"House Bill 100, 2024 Regular Session, Enrolled (amending § 17-3-30.1; effective October 1, 2024)","publisher":"Alabama Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/register-to-vote","title":"Register to Vote / Update Your Information","publisher":"Alabama Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/elactnum.mbr/output","title":"Proposed Constitutional Amendments (list by election date)","publisher":"Alabama Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/alabama"},{"state":"Alaska","code":"AK","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Alaska, a conviction for a felony involving moral turpitude, meaning a crime on the Division of Elections' official list, takes away the right to vote until the person is unconditionally discharged: no longer serving a sentence and released from all Department of Corrections supervision, including probation and parole. To register again, the person must give the Division of Elections proof of the unconditional discharge, such as a discharge letter from their probation or parole office. Felonies that are not on the list do not take away the right to vote.","in_prison":"depends","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"automatic_with_conditions","restoration_detail":"These stage answers apply to people convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude. The Division of Elections says that a person who is 'no longer serving a sentence and [has] been unconditionally discharged from supervision by the Department of Corrections' can register to vote, and that people convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or on probation or parole for it, are not eligible until then. To register, the Division must receive proof of the unconditional discharge from the supervising entity; the Division says people without a discharge letter or papers should ask their probation or parole office for one and submit it to the Division. The state's paper registration form tells applicants with such a conviction to include a copy of their discharge papers if available, and its voter certificate asks them to certify that they have been unconditionally discharged from incarceration, probation and parole.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Division of Elections' page and registration form do not say whether fines, fees or restitution must be paid before a person is unconditionally discharged or can register. Not confirmed.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2024-07-17","detail":"The Division of Elections published a revised List of Felonies Involving Moral Turpitude (AS 15.80.010(10)), marked 'Rev. 7.17.2024', which its voter information page links as the list of disqualifying felonies. What changed from the earlier list was not confirmed.","source":{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240717_List-of-Felonies-Involving-Moral-Turpitude.pdf","title":"List of Felonies Involving Moral Turpitude (AS 15.80.010(10)), Rev. 7.17.2024","publisher":"Alaska Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/voter-information/","title":"Alaska Division of Elections: Voter Information (Who can register; Restoring my voting rights)"},"statute":[{"cite":"AS 15.80.010(10) (definition of felony involving moral turpitude, as cited on the Division of Elections' list)","url":"https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#15.80.010"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/voter-information/","title":"Voter Information: Who Can Register, Who Can Vote?; Restoring my voting rights","publisher":"Alaska Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240717_List-of-Felonies-Involving-Moral-Turpitude.pdf","title":"List of Felonies Involving Moral Turpitude (AS 15.80.010(10)), Rev. 7.17.2024","publisher":"Alaska Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/forms/C03.pdf","title":"Alaska Voter Registration Application (paper form C03) and instructions","publisher":"Alaska Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/petitions-and-ballot-measures/","title":"Petitions and Ballot Measures","publisher":"Alaska Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/25USCV-Ballot-Title-Summary.pdf","title":"Initiative Petition 25USCV, Ballot Title and Summary","publisher":"Alaska Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/alaska"},{"state":"Arizona","code":"AZ","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Arizona, a felony conviction suspends the right to vote. For a person with only one felony conviction, the right comes back automatically once probation or prison, including any parole, is finished and all victim restitution is paid. People with more than one felony conviction, people who have not paid victim restitution, and people whose only felony is from another state or federal court must apply to a superior court, and everyone must submit a new voter registration form after their rights are restored.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"Automatic: a person with no earlier felony conviction who completes probation for an Arizona offense or receives an absolute discharge from imprisonment, and who pays all victim restitution, has civil rights, including the right to vote, restored automatically (A.R.S. § 13-907(A)); the Secretary of State says this includes all probation or parole. No application is needed, but a person who wants confirmation may apply to the convicting court to certify the automatic restoration, and the court must grant it without a response from the state or a hearing. Application, granted as of right: a person whose first felony conviction was in another state or a federal court, and who has paid all victim restitution, must file an application, which the court must grant without a hearing (A.R.S. § 13-907(B)); it is filed in the superior court of the county where the person now lives (§ 13-908(C)-(D)). Application, at the judge's discretion: a person with more than one felony conviction, or who has not paid all victim restitution, may apply to the superior court after final discharge (completion of probation or absolute discharge from prison), and restoration is up to the judge (A.R.S. § 13-908(A), (G)); the clerk may not charge a filing fee. The Secretary of State's guide says people with several Arizona convictions must file in each county where they were convicted, and that the clerk of the superior court provides the application form. After rights are restored, the person must submit a new voter registration form, because a felony conviction cancels the registration (A.R.S. § 16-165(A)(4)).","fines_and_fees":"some","fines_and_fees_detail":"Automatic restoration requires payment of all victim restitution (A.R.S. § 13-907); the statute does not list fines or fees as a condition. A person who has not paid victim restitution can still apply to the superior court, where restoration is discretionary (A.R.S. § 13-908). The Secretary of State's guide also names 'other court-ordered fines and fees' as a factor in where to file, and the Spanish version of its registration page mentions fines; the statute's condition for automatic restoration names only victim restitution.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2022-09-24","detail":"Laws 2022, Ch. 199 (H.B. 2119), signed April 29, 2022 and in effect on the session's general effective date, September 24, 2022, changed the restoration process: sentencing courts must tell people in writing and on the record whether their rights will be restored automatically or when they can apply; probation or the Department of Corrections must give people a copy of the sentencing order on discharge; people with convictions from other states apply in their county of residence; and, according to the Secretary of State's guide, supporting documents are no longer required with an application. A 2026 bill to limit the suspension to the term of imprisonment (HB 4075) was introduced but not passed.","source":{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/laws/0199.htm","title":"Laws 2022, Chapter 199 (House Bill 2119), civil rights restoration; requirements; process","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://azsos.gov/elections/voters/registering-vote","title":"Arizona Secretary of State: Registering to Vote (eligibility, voting from jail, and the Restoration of Voting Rights guide)"},"statute":[{"cite":"A.R.S. § 13-904(A)(1)","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00904.htm"},{"cite":"A.R.S. § 13-906","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00906.htm"},{"cite":"A.R.S. § 13-907","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00907.htm"},{"cite":"A.R.S. § 13-908","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00908.htm"},{"cite":"A.R.S. § 16-101(A)(5)","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00101.htm"},{"cite":"A.R.S. § 16-165(A)(4)","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00165.htm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/docs/AZ_Voting_Rights_Restoration_of_Rights_20241029.pdf","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights in Arizona","publisher":"Arizona Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://azsos.gov/elections/voters/registering-vote","title":"Registering to Vote","publisher":"Arizona Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00907.htm","title":"A.R.S. § 13-907, Automatic restoration of civil rights for first offenders; firearm rights","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00908.htm","title":"A.R.S. § 13-908, Restoration of civil rights; application; firearm rights; definition","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00904.htm","title":"A.R.S. § 13-904, Suspension of civil rights and occupational disabilities","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00906.htm","title":"A.R.S. § 13-906, Restoration of civil rights; process","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00101.htm","title":"A.R.S. § 16-101, Qualifications of registrant","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00165.htm","title":"A.R.S. § 16-165, Causes for cancellation","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/laws/0199.htm","title":"Laws 2022, Chapter 199 (House Bill 2119)","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/general-effective-dates/","title":"General Effective Dates","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/2R/bills/HB4075P.htm","title":"HB 4075, 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026), introduced version","publisher":"Arizona State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2026-Ballot-Language-English-2026-0819.pdf","title":"2026 Official Ballot Measure Language","publisher":"Arizona Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/arizona"},{"state":"Arkansas","code":"AR","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Arkansas, a person with a felony conviction cannot register or vote until the sentence has been discharged or the person has been pardoned. To register again, the person must give the county clerk proof from the appropriate agencies that they have met the conditions the law lists (discharge from probation or parole, payment of probation or parole fees, satisfaction of all terms of imprisonment, and payment of all applicable court costs, fines or restitution), or proof that the record has been sealed, along with a new voter registration application.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic_with_conditions","restoration_detail":"The Secretary of State says that to register a person must 'not be a convicted felon whose sentence has not been discharged or pardoned,' and the state voter registration application asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony without the sentence having been discharged or pardoned, and tells anyone who answers yes not to complete the form. The Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk, whose office runs voter registration in Arkansas's largest county, lists the steps under Ark. Const. amend. 51, § 11(d)(2)(A)-(D): (1) obtain proof from the appropriate state or local agencies that all of the requirements have been completed (the flyer lists discharge from probation or parole, payment of all probation or parole fees, satisfaction of all terms of imprisonment, and payment of all applicable court costs, fines or restitution), or proof that the record has been sealed; (2) submit the proof to the voter registration office of the county clerk where the person now lives; and (3) complete an Arkansas voter registration application and return it to that office. A pardon also ends the disqualification.","fines_and_fees":"required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Proof of payment of all applicable court costs, fines or restitution, and of any probation or parole fees, must be given to the county clerk before registering (Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk, citing Ark. Const. amend. 51, § 11(d)(2)(A)-(D)). The clerk's flyer offers proof that the record has been sealed as an alternative to proof of completion.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-information","title":"Arkansas Secretary of State: Voter Registration Information (registration requirements)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Ark. Const. amend. 51, § 11(d)(2)(A)-(D) (as cited by the Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk)","url":null},{"cite":"Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-201 (as cited by the Secretary of State's voter registration FAQ)","url":null}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-information","title":"Voter Registration Information","publisher":"Arkansas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-faqs/","title":"Voter Registration FAQs","publisher":"Arkansas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/Voter_Reg_App._8-2023_.pdf","title":"Arkansas Voter Registration Application (8-2023)","publisher":"Arkansas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://media.ark.org/pulaskiclerk/NEW_Restoration_Voter_Rights_Flyer.pdf","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights for Returning Citizens (flyer)","publisher":"Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://media.ark.org/pulaskiclerk/Voter_Restoration_Flyer_Updated.pdf","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights (flyer, earlier version)","publisher":"Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sbec.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-CBEC-Manual.pdf","title":"2026 County Board of Election Commissioners Procedures Manual","publisher":"Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/initiatives-and-referenda/","title":"Initiatives and Referenda (2026 ballot issues)","publisher":"Arkansas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/arkansas"},{"state":"California","code":"CA","answer":"after_release","summary":"In California, people lose the right to vote only while serving a state or federal prison term for a felony, including people serving a state prison sentence in a county jail under an agreement with the state and people held in a local jail awaiting transfer to prison after a felony conviction. People serving a felony sentence in county jail (not a prison term) can register and vote, as can people in jail for a misdemeanor, as a condition of probation or while awaiting trial, and people on parole, probation, mandatory supervision, post-release community supervision or federal supervised release. People released from prison must register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The right to vote is restored when the state or federal prison term ends. The person must register again, online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or with a paper voter registration card. Someone released before a requested vote-by-mail ballot arrives can vote a provisional ballot at the polling place for their home address or any polling place in the county where they are registered. While the prison term lasts, the bar also covers people serving a state prison sentence in a local detention facility under a Penal Code § 2910 agreement and people in a local facility awaiting transfer to state or federal prison after a felony conviction.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Neither Elections Code § 2101 nor the Secretary of State's page makes payment of fines, fees or restitution a condition; the only bar is a current state or federal prison term for a felony.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2021-01-01","detail":"Voters approved Proposition 17 (ACA 6) on November 3, 2020, amending Article II, § 4 of the California Constitution (effective December 16, 2020) so that electors are disqualified only while 'serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony.' Elections Code § 2101 was amended to match by AB 646 (Stats. 2020, ch. 320), effective January 1, 2021: it now bars only people 'imprisoned for the conviction of a felony,' defined as 'currently serving a state or federal prison term,' and the Secretary of State lists people on parole as eligible.","source":{"url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=ELEC&sectionNum=2101","title":"California Elections Code § 2101","publisher":"California Legislative Information","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/who-can-vote-california/voting-rights-californians/","title":"California Secretary of State: Voting Rights: Persons with a Prior Felony Conviction"},"statute":[{"cite":"Cal. Const. art. II, § 4","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%204.&article=II"},{"cite":"Cal. Elec. Code § 2101","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=ELEC&sectionNum=2101"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/who-can-vote-california/voting-rights-californians/","title":"Voting Rights: Persons with a Prior Felony Conviction","publisher":"California Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=ELEC&sectionNum=2101","title":"California Elections Code § 2101","publisher":"California Legislative Information","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%204.&article=II","title":"California Constitution, Article II, § 4","publisher":"California Legislative Information","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures","title":"Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures (November 3, 2026)","publisher":"California Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/california"},{"state":"Colorado","code":"CO","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Colorado, it is illegal to register or vote while serving a sentence of incarceration or detention for a felony conviction. Eligibility returns on the day of release, including for people on parole, and people on probation can vote. People who were registered before a felony incarceration must register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The Secretary of State says 'the day you are released from detention or incarceration is the day your eligibility to register to vote is restored.' No official letter is sent; at the first meeting with the division of adult parole, the division must give the person information about their voting rights, how to register or update a registration, how to get and cast a ballot, and how to get voter information materials. A registration from before the felony incarceration will have been canceled, so the person must register again, online with a Colorado driver's license or state ID or with a paper form.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Secretary of State says payment of restitution 'is not a condition of voting eligibility.'","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2024-05-31","detail":"SB24-072, 'Voting for Confined Eligible Electors' (2024 Session Laws, ch. 298, effective May 31, 2024), requires each county sheriff to designate at least one person to help eligible people in the county jail or detention center register and vote, requires one day of in-person voting at each county jail or detention center, and requires the county clerk to check the Department of Corrections database to confirm that a confined person is not serving a felony sentence before registering them or letting them vote in person. It did not change who is eligible. The last change to eligibility was HB19-1266 (2019 Session Laws, ch. 283, effective July 1, 2019), which made people on parole eligible to register and vote.","source":{"url":"https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-072","title":"SB24-072 Voting for Confined Eligible Electors","publisher":"Colorado General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/FAQs/VotingAndConviction.html","title":"Colorado Secretary of State: Voters with Convictions FAQs"},"statute":[{"cite":"C.R.S. § 1-2-103(4), as amended by HB19-1266 (2019 Colo. Sess. Laws ch. 283, § 3)","url":"https://leg.colorado.gov/laws/session-laws/HB19-1266/283/download"},{"cite":"C.R.S. § 1-1-104(49.3) (definition of 'term of imprisonment', added by HB19-1266)","url":"https://leg.colorado.gov/laws/session-laws/HB19-1266/283/download"},{"cite":"C.R.S. § 1-13-704.5 (penalty for illegal registration or voting, as cited by the Secretary of State)","url":null}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/FAQs/VotingAndConviction.html","title":"Voters with Convictions FAQs","publisher":"Colorado Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://leg.colorado.gov/laws/session-laws/HB19-1266/283/download","title":"2019 Session Laws, Chapter 283 (HB19-1266), Restore Voting Rights Parolees","publisher":"Colorado General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1266","title":"HB19-1266 Restore Voting Rights Parolees (bill summary, history and session-law table)","publisher":"Colorado General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-072","title":"SB24-072 Voting for Confined Eligible Electors (bill summary and session-law table)","publisher":"Colorado General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/Initiatives/ballot/contacts/2026.html","title":"Amendments and Propositions on the 2026 Ballot","publisher":"Colorado Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/colorado"},{"state":"Connecticut","code":"CT","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Connecticut, people lose the right to vote only while confined in a prison or other correctional facility for a felony conviction. The right returns on release, including for people on parole or probation and people living in a community residence, and people must register to vote again. People convicted of a felony violation of the state's election laws must wait until they are discharged from parole and probation.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-46a(b), on release from confinement the person has the right to become an elector, and the Commissioner of Correction must give them a document certifying the release. Registrars remove people from the voter list after a felony commitment (§ 9-45(a)), and the Secretary of the State's guide says that to restore the right, the person registers again: with a voter registration form for the registrars of voters in their town (in person or by mail), online at MyVote.CT.gov/register with a Connecticut driver's license or non-driver ID, at the DMV, or with a form from a library or other registration agency. People confined in a community residence keep or regain the right. A person returned to confinement from parole loses the right again until released (§ 9-46(b)). On parole and probation the right is restored for everyone except people convicted of a felony violation of the election laws (see exception).","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Sections 9-46 and 9-46a set no payment condition. According to the statute's history note, June Special Session Public Act 21-2 deleted a provision about payment of fines from § 9-46a(a), effective July 1, 2021.","lost_for_good_for":["felony violations of Connecticut's election laws (Title 9 of the General Statutes)"],"exception":"People convicted of a felony violation of Connecticut's election laws cannot register to vote again until they are discharged from parole and probation for that felony.","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2026-01-01","detail":"Public Act 25-168 added § 9-139a(c), effective January 1, 2026, which requires the Secretary of the State to prescribe and furnish to the Department of Correction an absentee ballot application form for incarcerated applicants in Department of Correction facilities; it also amended § 9-140 to require the Commissioner of Correction to ensure delivery of absentee ballots to such an applicant who is moved to another facility, and updated the wording of § 9-14a on voters in state custody. It did not change who is eligible. The last change to eligibility was June Special Session Public Act 21-2, effective July 1, 2021, which made the right return on release from confinement instead of on discharge from parole, kept the right for people in community residences, deleted a provision about payment of fines, and added a rule that a person returned to confinement from parole loses the right again.","source":{"url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_145.htm","title":"Connecticut General Statutes, 2026 Supplement, Chapter 145 (§ 9-139a and history note)","publisher":"Connecticut General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/voting-eligibility","title":"Connecticut Secretary of the State: Voting Eligibility (links the 'Restoring Voting Rights' guide)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-45","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm#sec_9-45"},{"cite":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-46","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm#sec_9-46"},{"cite":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-46a","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm#sec_9-46a"},{"cite":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-14a (2026 Supp.)","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_143.htm"},{"cite":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-139a(c) (2026 Supp.)","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_145.htm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm","title":"Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 143, Electors: Qualifications and Admission","publisher":"Connecticut General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_143.htm","title":"Connecticut General Statutes, 2026 Supplement, Chapter 143 (sections changed in the 2025 session)","publisher":"Connecticut General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_145.htm","title":"Connecticut General Statutes, 2026 Supplement, Chapter 145, Absentee Voting","publisher":"Connecticut General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/HAVA/HavaPDF/Restoration_of_Voter_Rights_Rev2023.pdf","title":"Released from Incarceration? How to Restore Your Right to Vote (Rev. 2023)","publisher":"Connecticut Secretary of the State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/voting-eligibility","title":"Voting Eligibility","publisher":"Connecticut Secretary of the State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/town_ballots/2026/nov-2026/oxford_sample.pdf","title":"Oxford, Connecticut, State Election November 3, 2026, Official Sample Ballot","publisher":"Connecticut Secretary of the State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/connecticut"},{"state":"Delaware","code":"DE","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Delaware, people with a felony conviction cannot register or vote until they have fully discharged their sentence, including any prison time, parole and probation; unpaid fines, fees, costs and restitution do not count against them. People convicted of murder or manslaughter (except vehicular homicide), a felony involving bribery, improper influence or abuse of office, or a felony sexual offense are permanently disqualified under the state constitution, and the Department of Elections lists that bar as applying to people who have not been pardoned. A conviction for certain election offenses, such as buying votes or intimidating voters, bars voting for 10 years after the sentence.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"For felonies that are not permanently disqualifying, the disqualification is removed on a pardon or when the sentence expires, whichever comes first, and the sentence includes all periods of probation, parole and suspension (Del. Const. art. V, § 2(b)); by statute a sentence has not expired until the person has served all imprisonment, parole, work release, early release, supervised custody, probation and community supervision (15 Del. C. § 6102). The person then applies to register; the Department of Elections says a person who has completed the sentence for a non-disqualifying felony must register again even if registered before the conviction. The county office checks the Criminal Justice Information System, and if eligibility is unclear the State Election Commissioner asks the Department of Correction to review its records before approving or denying the application (15 Del. C. §§ 6103-6104). Fees for these record searches are waived (§ 6105), and a denial can be appealed to the Superior Court (§ 6107). For the permanently disqualifying felonies, the Department of Elections' registration FAQ lists the bar as applying to people who 'have not been pardoned'.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Department of Elections says payment of any fees, fines, costs or restitution 'is NOT considered in determining discharge of sentence for purposes of eligibility to register to vote.'","lost_for_good_for":["murder or manslaughter (except vehicular homicide)","any felony offense against public administration involving bribery, improper influence or abuse of office, or a like offense in another state, the federal system or DC","any felony sexual offense, or a like offense in another state, the federal system or DC"],"exception":"People convicted of an election offense under Article V, § 7 of the Delaware Constitution, such as buying or selling votes, bribing or intimidating voters or election officers, or an election officer's willful breach of duty, cannot vote for 10 years after their sentence; the Constitution classes these offenses as misdemeanors.","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2025-03-25","detail":"A technical-corrections amendment to the Delaware Constitution (first leg: House Bill 430 of the 152nd General Assembly, 84 Del. Laws c. 281; second leg: House Bill 10 of the 153rd General Assembly, 85 Del. Laws c. 5, approved March 25, 2025) is the latest change listed under Article V, §§ 2 and 7. Its synopsis describes gender-silent wording and other technical corrections; the felony rules in § 2 read the same as the Department of Elections' list. The last substantive changes to the felony rules (such as the removal of a payment requirement) were not dated on an official page.","source":{"url":"https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail/141791","title":"House Bill 10, 153rd General Assembly (second leg of a constitutional amendment relating to technical corrections)","publisher":"Delaware General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/felons.html","title":"Delaware Department of Elections: Persons Convicted of a Felony"},"statute":[{"cite":"Del. Const. art. V, § 2","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/constitution/constitution-06.html"},{"cite":"Del. Const. art. V, § 7","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/constitution/constitution-06.html"},{"cite":"15 Del. C. § 1701(a)","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c017/index.html"},{"cite":"15 Del. C. §§ 6101-6107 (Registration of Former Felons)","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c061/index.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/felons.html","title":"Persons Convicted of a Felony","publisher":"Delaware Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/votereg.html","title":"Voter Registration FAQ (What are the qualifications? Can a person convicted of a felony register to vote?)","publisher":"Delaware Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/constitution/constitution-06.html","title":"Delaware Constitution, Article V (Elections), §§ 2 and 7","publisher":"Delaware Code Online (State of Delaware)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c017/index.html","title":"Delaware Code Title 15, Chapter 17, § 1701 Qualifications for registration as qualified voter","publisher":"Delaware Code Online (State of Delaware)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c061/index.html","title":"Delaware Code Title 15, Chapter 61, Registration of Former Felons","publisher":"Delaware Code Online (State of Delaware)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail/141791","title":"House Bill 10, 153rd General Assembly (85 Del. Laws c. 5), constitutional amendment relating to technical corrections","publisher":"Delaware General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail/142224","title":"House Bill 180, 153rd General Assembly (first leg of a proposed amendment to Article V relating to voting)","publisher":"Delaware General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/delaware"},{"state":"District of Columbia","code":"DC","answer":"never_lost","summary":"In the District of Columbia, a felony conviction does not take away the right to vote, including while a person is incarcerated. DC residents held in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities or the DC jail can register and vote, and DC's voter qualifications contain no exclusion for people on probation, parole or supervised release.","in_prison":"can_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"never_lost","restoration_detail":"No restoration is needed. DC's definition of a qualified elector has no exclusion for a criminal conviction or incarceration (D.C. Code § 1-1001.02(2)), and the Board of Elections' list of qualifications to register does not mention convictions. The Department of Corrections must automatically register qualified electors in its Central Detention Facility and Correctional Treatment Facility, and the Board requests contact information for qualified electors in Bureau of Prisons custody (D.C. Code § 1-1001.07). The Board sends mail ballots to registered DC voters in Bureau of Prisons facilities, which treat ballots as legal mail, and runs in-person voting in both DC Department of Corrections facilities.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":null,"lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"no","recent_change":{"date":"2021-04-27","detail":"The Restore the Vote Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-277, effective April 27, 2021) allows DC residents who are otherwise qualified to vote while incarcerated for a felony conviction, made the Department of Corrections an automatic voter registration agency, and requires the Board of Elections to provide registration forms, voter guides and absentee ballots to qualified electors in Department of Corrections custody, and to endeavor to provide them to those in Bureau of Prisons custody. The qualified-elector definition in D.C. Code § 1-1001.02(2) now has no conviction or incarceration exclusion (its paragraph (D) is marked 'Repealed'). The Board's figures show DC residents in Bureau of Prisons facilities registering and voting in the November 2020 general election, before the permanent law's effective date; the earlier legal basis was not confirmed. In the 2024 general election, the Board reports, 1,173 DC residents in Bureau of Prisons facilities were registered and 654 voted.","source":{"url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-277","title":"D.C. Law 23-277, Restore the Vote Amendment Act of 2020","publisher":"Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.dcboe.org/voters/register-to-vote/register-update-voter-registration","title":"DC Board of Elections: Register/Update Voter Registration (qualifications)"},"statute":[{"cite":"D.C. Code § 1-1001.02(2) (definition of qualified elector)","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1001.02"},{"cite":"D.C. Code § 1-1001.07 (voter registration; Department of Corrections automatic registration; Bureau of Prisons records)","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1001.07"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1001.02","title":"D.C. Code § 1-1001.02, Definitions","publisher":"Council of the District of Columbia","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1001.07","title":"D.C. Code § 1-1001.07, Voter registration","publisher":"Council of the District of Columbia","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/23-277","title":"D.C. Law 23-277, Restore the Vote Amendment Act of 2020","publisher":"Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.dcboe.org/voters/register-to-vote/register-update-voter-registration","title":"Register/Update Voter Registration","publisher":"District of Columbia Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://dcboe.org/getmedia/a090eb29-9557-41f0-b7a7-2a075a54a868/7_GE-2024_Restore-the-Vote-Overview_attachment7.pdf","title":"Restore the Vote Overview, 2024 Primary and General Elections","publisher":"District of Columbia Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://dcboe.org/getmedia/8e8c6701-3c7d-497b-84b9-b1fa143d4152/BOE_CIC-Voting-Report-4-2-25.pdf","title":"Implementation of Recommendations Regarding Restore the Vote Amendment Act 2020, as of 2024 General Election (April 2, 2025)","publisher":"D.C. Board of Elections and D.C. Corrections Information Council","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://dcboe.org/ballot-measures/current-measures","title":"Current Measures","publisher":"District of Columbia Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/district-of-columbia"},{"state":"Florida","code":"FL","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Florida, people with a felony conviction cannot vote until they complete all terms of their sentence, including prison, parole, probation and full payment of the restitution, fines, fees and costs ordered in the sentence. People convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense can regain the right to vote only through the State Clemency Board. A person who is unsure can ask the Division of Elections for an advisory opinion on their eligibility.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"For most felonies, the disqualification ends 'upon the completion of all terms of his or her sentence, including parole or probation' (s. 98.0751(1), Fla. Stat.; Fla. Const. art. VI, § 4(a)). That means every term in the four corners of the sentencing document: release from prison or jail, termination of probation, community control, parole or other supervision, any other court-ordered term, and full payment of the restitution, fines and fees ordered as part of the sentence or as a condition of supervision (the Department of State also lists costs). Only amounts ordered in the sentence count; fines, fees or costs that accrue later, such as interest or collection charges, do not (s. 98.0751(2)(a)5.c.; the Department of State's 'first dollar' policy). A court may end a financial obligation with the consent of the person owed or convert it to community service, and finishing the community service completes that term; converting it to a civil lien does not (s. 98.0751(2)(a)5.e.). A person unsure of their eligibility can request an advisory opinion from the Division of Elections (s. 106.23(2), Fla. Stat.; Rule 1S-2.010, F.A.C.). Anyone can also apply to the State Clemency Board, which is the only route for people convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense. Once eligible, the person may register to vote; registered voters found to be ineligible because of a felony conviction are removed from the voter rolls (s. 98.075(5), (7)).","fines_and_fees":"required","fines_and_fees_detail":"All restitution, fines and fees ordered as part of the felony sentence or as a condition of supervision must be paid in full (the Department of State also lists costs), unless a court ends them with the consent of the person owed or converts them to community service that is completed. Amounts that accrue after sentencing, such as interest and collection charges, do not count. Conversion to a civil lien does not satisfy the requirement (s. 98.0751(2)(a)5., Fla. Stat.; Department of State).","lost_for_good_for":["murder","felony sexual offense"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2025-10-01","detail":"Two 2025 laws took effect October 1, 2025. Chapter 2025-84, Laws of Florida (CS/CS/HB 1451, approved May 22, 2025), amended the voting law's definition of 'felony sexual offense' (s. 98.0751(2)(b)) to include the new felony of sexual cyberharassment for pecuniary or other financial gain that it created in s. 784.049(4). Chapter 2025-156 (CS/CS/SB 1804, on capital human trafficking of vulnerable persons for sexual exploitation, approved June 19, 2025) amended the sexual offender registration law (s. 943.0435) and, in section 57, reenacted the same definition to take in that amendment; because any felony that is a predicate for sexual offender registration is a 'felony sexual offense' for voting, the definition follows the registration law. Exactly which offense ch. 2025-156 added to s. 943.0435 was not confirmed, because the extracted text does not show the act's underlining.","source":{"url":"https://laws.flrules.org/2025/84","title":"Laws of Florida, Chapter 2025-84 (CS/CS/HB 1451)","publisher":"Florida Department of State (Laws of Florida)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/felon-voting-rights/","title":"Florida Division of Elections: Felon Voting Rights"},"statute":[{"cite":"Fla. Const. art. VI, § 4","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution"},{"cite":"s. 98.0751, Fla. Stat. (2026)","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/98.0751"},{"cite":"s. 98.075(5), (7), Fla. Stat. (2026) (removal of registered voters with a felony conviction)","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/98.075"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/felon-voting-rights/","title":"Felon Voting Rights (last updated July 10, 2024)","publisher":"Florida Department of State, Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/98.0751","title":"Florida Statutes s. 98.0751 (2026), Restoration of voting rights; termination of ineligibility subsequent to a felony conviction","publisher":"The Florida Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution","title":"The Florida Constitution (Article VI, § 4, Disqualifications)","publisher":"The Florida Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/98.075","title":"Florida Statutes s. 98.075 (2026), Registration records maintenance activities; ineligibility determinations","publisher":"The Florida Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://laws.flrules.org/2025/84","title":"Laws of Florida, Chapter 2025-84 (CS/CS/HB 1451)","publisher":"Florida Department of State (Laws of Florida)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://laws.flrules.org/2025/156","title":"Laws of Florida, Chapter 2025-156 (CS/CS/SB 1804)","publisher":"Florida Department of State (Laws of Florida)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/clemency","title":"Clemency","publisher":"Florida Commission on Offender Review","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://constitutionalinitiatives.dos.fl.gov/","title":"Initiatives / Amendments / Revisions Database","publisher":"Florida Department of State, Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/florida"},{"state":"Georgia","code":"GA","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"Georgia's Constitution says a person convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude may not register, stay registered or vote until the sentence is complete, and the Secretary of State applies this to anyone serving a felony sentence, including any probation, parole and payment of fines owed. Once the whole sentence is complete, including fines owed, the right returns without an application. People convicted of a felony are removed from the voter list, so they need to register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The right returns 'upon completion of the sentence' (Ga. Const. art. II, sec. I, para. III(a); O.C.G.A. § 21-2-216(b)). The Secretary of State's Elections FAQ says people with a felony conviction are not eligible to register and vote 'except upon completion of the sentence, including any probation, parole, or payment of fines owed.' The official pages reviewed describe no application or certificate. Because the Constitution bars such a person from remaining registered and O.C.G.A. § 21-2-231 has county boards of registrars remove people convicted of felonies from the list of electors, the person needs to submit a new voter registration after the sentence is complete.","fines_and_fees":"required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Secretary of State's Elections FAQ says people with a felony conviction are not eligible to register and vote except upon completion of the sentence, 'including any probation, parole, or payment of fines owed.' The official pages reviewed do not separately address restitution, court costs or other fees.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.ga.gov/page/elections-faq","title":"Elections FAQ (Georgia Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Ga. Const. art. II, § I, para. III(a)","url":"https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Georgia%20Constitution.pdf"},{"cite":"O.C.G.A. § 21-2-216(b)","url":"https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/qualifications-for-electors"},{"cite":"O.C.G.A. § 21-2-231","url":"https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/qualifications-for-electors"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.ga.gov/page/elections-faq","title":"Elections FAQ","publisher":"Georgia Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Georgia%20Constitution.pdf","title":"Constitution of the State of Georgia, Article II, Section I, Paragraph III","publisher":"Georgia Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/qualifications-for-electors","title":"Qualifications For Electors (text of O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-216 and 21-2-231)","publisher":"Georgia Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.ga.gov/search?s=1033&k=21-2-216","title":"Legislation search, 2025-2026 Regular Session: bills citing Code Section 21-2-216","publisher":"Georgia General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/2026%20Constitutional%20Summaries%20booklet%20FINAL.pdf","title":"Proposed Constitutional Amendments, General Election November 3, 2026","publisher":"Georgia Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/georgia"},{"state":"Hawaii","code":"HI","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Hawaii, a person sentenced for a felony cannot vote while imprisoned. A person who is placed on probation, or who is paroled after imprisonment, may register and vote during the probation or parole. The Office of Elections says people held before trial can vote.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"HRS § 831-2(a) bars voting from the time of a felony sentence until final discharge, except that a person placed on probation, or paroled after commitment to imprisonment, may vote during the probation or parole; the Hawaii Constitution (art. II, sec. 2) allows voting 'upon the person's final discharge or earlier as provided by law.' The Office of Elections says such a person 'may register and vote' during that period. No application is described. Under HRS § 11-23, the county clerk may remove from the register a person reported as having lost voting rights under § 831-2, and a person removed 'may reregister to vote.'","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"HRS § 831-2(a) and the Office of Elections tie the right only to imprisonment, probation, parole and final discharge; neither makes voting depend on paying fines, fees or restitution.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://elections.hawaii.gov/voting/voters-with-a-felony-conviction/","title":"Voters with a Felony Conviction (Hawaii Office of Elections)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Haw. Const. art. II, § 2","url":"https://lrb.hawaii.gov/constitution"},{"cite":"HRS § 831-2(a)","url":"https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0831/HRS_0831-0002.htm"},{"cite":"HRS § 11-23","url":"https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0011/HRS_0011-0023.htm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://elections.hawaii.gov/voting/voters-with-a-felony-conviction/","title":"Voters with a Felony Conviction (last updated March 3, 2021)","publisher":"Hawaii Office of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0831/HRS_0831-0002.htm","title":"HRS § 831-2, Rights lost","publisher":"Hawaii State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://lrb.hawaii.gov/constitution","title":"Constitution of the State of Hawaii, Article II, Section 2","publisher":"Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0011/HRS_0011-0023.htm","title":"HRS § 11-23, Changing register; striking names of disqualified voters","publisher":"Hawaii State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.hawaii.gov/newsletters/newsletter-may-2026/","title":"Office of Elections Newsletter, May 2026","publisher":"Hawaii Office of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.hawaii.gov/voting/2026-proposed-amendments-to-the-hawaii-state-constitution/","title":"2026 Proposed Amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution","publisher":"Hawaii Office of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/hawaii"},{"state":"Idaho","code":"ID","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In Idaho, people with a felony conviction cannot register or vote until the terms of their sentence are complete, including any prison time, probation and parole. On final discharge, Idaho law restores the right to vote without an application, including for felony convictions from other states, and the person registers again. Since July 1, 2026, people convicted of treason in another state or jurisdiction are left out of that rule.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Idaho Code § 18-310(1) suspends the civil rights of a person sentenced to the custody of the Idaho State Board of Correction during imprisonment and allows only civil rights 'that are not political' during parole or probation. Section 18-310(2) restores 'the full rights of citizenship' to a person convicted of an Idaho felony upon 'final discharge,' defined as satisfactory completion of imprisonment, probation and parole, as the case may be. Section 18-310(4) lets people convicted of felonies in other states or jurisdictions register and vote in Idaho upon final discharge, except people convicted of treason. The Secretary of State says people with a felony conviction may not register until the terms of their sentence have been completed. No application is described; Idaho's voter registration form asks whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony and, if so, whether their rights have been restored. Under Idaho Code § 34-433, the Department of Correction sends offender data to the Secretary of State each month and county clerks cancel the registrations of people found ineligible to vote, so a person whose registration was cancelled registers again after final discharge.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"Neither Idaho Code § 18-310 nor the Secretary of State's pages reviewed mention fines, fees or restitution; restoration turns on 'final discharge,' meaning satisfactory completion of imprisonment, probation and parole.","lost_for_good_for":["Treason convictions from another state or jurisdiction (excluded from Idaho Code § 18-310(4))"],"exception":"People convicted of treason in another state or jurisdiction are excluded from the Idaho law that restores voting on final discharge for out-of-state felony convictions (Idaho Code § 18-310(4), as amended effective July 1, 2026).","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2026-07-01","detail":"House Bill 698 (2026 Idaho Session Laws chapter 64), signed by the Governor on March 19, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, added the words 'except for persons convicted of treason' to Idaho Code § 18-310(4), the provision that lets people convicted of felonies in other states or jurisdictions register and vote in Idaho upon final discharge.","source":{"url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0698","title":"House Bill 698 (2026)","publisher":"Idaho State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://voteidaho.gov/frequently-asked-questions/","title":"Frequently Asked Questions (VoteIdaho.gov, Idaho Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Idaho Const. art. VI, § 3","url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idconst/artvi/sect3/"},{"cite":"Idaho Code § 18-310","url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch3/sect18-310/"},{"cite":"Idaho Code § 34-433","url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title34/T34CH4/SECT34-433"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch3/sect18-310/","title":"Idaho Code § 18-310, Imprisonment — Effect on civil rights and offices","publisher":"Idaho State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idconst/artvi/sect3/","title":"Idaho Constitution, Article VI, Section 3","publisher":"Idaho State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title34/T34CH4/SECT34-433","title":"Idaho Code § 34-433, Accuracy of voter registration information","publisher":"Idaho State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://voteidaho.gov/frequently-asked-questions/","title":"Frequently Asked Questions","publisher":"Idaho Secretary of State (VoteIdaho.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://archive.voteidaho.gov/download/forms/voter_registration.pdf","title":"Idaho Voter Registration Form (ERM-1)","publisher":"Idaho Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0698","title":"House Bill 698 (2026), bill status","publisher":"Idaho State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0698.pdf","title":"House Bill 698 (2026), bill text","publisher":"Idaho State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://voteidaho.gov/initiatives-amendments/","title":"Initiatives & Amendments (2026)","publisher":"Idaho Secretary of State (VoteIdaho.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/idaho"},{"state":"Illinois","code":"IL","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Illinois, a person convicted of any crime who is serving a sentence of confinement in a prison or jail cannot vote until released, and this includes people on furlough or work release. People on parole, mandatory supervised release, electronic monitoring or probation can vote, and so can people held in jail awaiting trial. The Illinois Department of Corrections says people must register again after release, even if they were registered before the conviction.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under 10 ILCS 5/3-5, a person convicted of any crime who is serving a sentence of confinement in a penal institution may not vote 'until his release from confinement.' Confinement includes furlough and work release but not parole. 730 ILCS 5/5-5-5(c) says a person sentenced to imprisonment loses the right to vote 'until released from imprisonment,' and the Illinois Constitution requires the right to be restored 'not later than upon completion of his sentence.' No application is required, but the Illinois Department of Corrections says the person must register to vote again after release. IDOC's guide also lists residents of an Adult Transition Center among those who cannot vote.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Illinois law ties the right only to release from confinement (10 ILCS 5/3-5; 730 ILCS 5/5-5-5(c)). Neither the statutes nor IDOC's guide make voting depend on paying fines, fees or restitution.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://idoc.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idoc/communityresources/documents/know-your-rights-crim-record.pdf","title":"Know Your Rights: Voting with a Criminal Record (Illinois Department of Corrections)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Ill. Const. art. III, § 2","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con3.htm"},{"cite":"10 ILCS 5/3-5","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext?DocName=001000050K3-5"},{"cite":"730 ILCS 5/5-5-5(c)","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext?DocName=073000050K5-5-5"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext?DocName=001000050K3-5","title":"10 ILCS 5/3-5 (Election Code)","publisher":"Illinois General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext?DocName=073000050K5-5-5","title":"730 ILCS 5/5-5-5, Loss and restoration of rights","publisher":"Illinois General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con3.htm","title":"Constitution of the State of Illinois, Article III","publisher":"Illinois General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://idoc.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idoc/communityresources/documents/know-your-rights-crim-record.pdf","title":"Know Your Rights: Voting with a Criminal Record","publisher":"Illinois Department of Corrections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?GAID=18&DocNum=1733&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=160757&SessionID=114&Print=1","title":"Bill Status of SB1733 (104th General Assembly)","publisher":"Illinois General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?GAID=18&DocNum=41&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=155701&SessionID=114&Print=1","title":"Bill Status of HB0041 (104th General Assembly)","publisher":"Illinois General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ilga.gov/ftp/legislation/104/BillStatus/HTML/","title":"Bill status files, 104th General Assembly (constitutional amendment resolutions HJRCA/SJRCA)","publisher":"Illinois General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/illinois"},{"state":"Indiana","code":"IN","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Indiana, a person who is imprisoned after being convicted of a crime cannot register or vote while imprisoned. Once no longer imprisoned, the person may register again, including while on probation, parole, home detention or in certain community corrections programs, but a cancelled registration is not restored automatically. People in jail awaiting trial remain eligible to register and vote.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"IC 3-7-13-4 says a person who is convicted of a crime and imprisoned following conviction is deprived of the right of suffrage and is ineligible to register while imprisoned or otherwise subject to lawful detention. Under IC 3-7-13-5 the person becomes eligible to register when no longer imprisoned or otherwise subject to lawful detention, and IC 3-7-13-6 says a person who is not imprisoned or detained and is on probation, on parole, on home detention or in a community corrections program is eligible to register and to vote. County voter registration offices remove disfranchised voters from the list (IC 3-7-46-1), and the Indiana Election Division's 2026 Voter Registration Guidebook says a disenfranchised voter's registration 'is not automatically restored in Indiana,' so the person submits a new registration; the guidebook says a person whose registration was cancelled for imprisonment may register again as soon as they are released, provided it is during an open registration period.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"IC 3-7-13-4 through 3-7-13-6 and the Election Division's guidebook tie eligibility only to current imprisonment or lawful detention after conviction; none makes registration depend on paying fines, fees or restitution.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/voter-information/register-to-vote/","title":"Voter Registration (Indiana Election Division)"},"statute":[{"cite":"IC 3-7-13-4","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_3/Article_7/Chapter_13.pdf"},{"cite":"IC 3-7-13-5","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_3/Article_7/Chapter_13.pdf"},{"cite":"IC 3-7-13-6","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_3/Article_7/Chapter_13.pdf"},{"cite":"IC 3-7-46-1, -2, -3 and -3.5","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_3/Article_7/Chapter_46.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_3/Article_7/Chapter_13.pdf","title":"Indiana Code 2026, IC 3-7-13 (Registration and Voting Requirements)","publisher":"Indiana General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_3/Article_7/Chapter_46.pdf","title":"Indiana Code 2026, IC 3-7-46 (Removal From Registration Records Due to Criminal Conviction and Incarceration)","publisher":"Indiana General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.in.gov/dA/9a3ce04db6/2026-Voter-Registration-Guidebook-Revised-Apr-2026.FINAL.pdf?language_id=1","title":"2026 Indiana Voter Registration Guidebook (revised April 2026)","publisher":"Indiana Election Division","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/voter-information/register-to-vote/","title":"Voter Information: Voter Registration","publisher":"Indiana Election Division","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/indiana"},{"state":"Iowa","code":"IA","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Iowa, a felony conviction cancels a person's voter registration, and the right to vote is lost during prison, parole, probation or other supervised release. Under the Governor's Executive Order 7 (2020), the right comes back automatically once the whole sentence is discharged, without first paying fines, fees or restitution, and the person must register again. People convicted of a homicide-related crime under Iowa Code chapter 707 do not get the right back automatically and must apply to the Governor.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"Executive Order 7 (August 5, 2020) restored the rights of citizenship, including voting, to people who had discharged their sentences by that date, and says the Governor will restore them daily, beginning August 6, 2020, for people who discharge later; the order says these restorations are 'effective immediately upon the discharge of a person's sentence,' and the Governor's office says no further action is required. Discharge means completing any term of confinement, parole, probation or other supervised release for all felony convictions, and any special sentence under Iowa Code chapter 903B. The person must then register to vote at their current address. People convicted of a violation of Iowa Code chapter 707 (homicide and related crimes) are excluded from the order and may apply to the Governor for restoration once they have discharged probation or parole, using the Governor's 'Application for Restoration of Voting Rights'; questions go to the Governor's office at 515-281-5211.","fines_and_fees":"some","fines_and_fees_detail":"For people covered by Executive Order 7, the Secretary of State says they need not have paid fines, fees or restitution, or be on a payment plan, to be entitled to vote, though they remain obligated to pay; the order itself says it does not relieve anyone from paying fines, costs, restitution or other monetary obligations. For people convicted under Iowa Code chapter 707 who apply to the Governor, the Governor's office says the applicant must have completed repayment of court costs, restitution and fines or be current on a payment plan.","lost_for_good_for":["Convictions under Iowa Code chapter 707 (homicide and related crimes), unless the Governor restores the right on application"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2020-08-05","detail":"Governor Kim Reynolds signed Executive Order 7, restoring the right to vote to people who have discharged their felony sentences and providing for daily restorations as later sentences are discharged, except for people convicted of a violation of Iowa Code chapter 707.","source":{"url":"https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/EO7%20-%20Voting%20Restoration.pdf","title":"Executive Order Number Seven","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Iowa","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.iowa.gov/voters/restoring-voter-rights","title":"Restoring Voter Rights (Iowa Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Iowa Const. art. II, § 5","url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/ICP/1518288.pdf"},{"cite":"Iowa Code § 48A.6(1)","url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/48A.6.pdf"},{"cite":"Iowa Code § 48A.30(1)(d)","url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/48A.30.pdf"},{"cite":"Iowa Exec. Order No. 7 (Aug. 5, 2020)","url":"https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/EO7%20-%20Voting%20Restoration.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.iowa.gov/voters/restoring-voter-rights","title":"Restoring Voter Rights","publisher":"Iowa Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://governor.iowa.gov/services/voting-rights-restoration","title":"Voting Rights Restoration","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Iowa","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/EO7%20-%20Voting%20Restoration.pdf","title":"Executive Order Number Seven (August 5, 2020)","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Iowa","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/ICP/1518288.pdf","title":"Constitution of the State of Iowa (codified), Article II, Section 5","publisher":"Iowa Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/48A.6.pdf","title":"Iowa Code 2026, § 48A.6, Disqualified persons","publisher":"Iowa Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/48A.30.pdf","title":"Iowa Code 2026, § 48A.30, Cancellation of voter registration","publisher":"Iowa Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/statutory/constitution/pca","title":"Proposed Constitutional Amendment","publisher":"Iowa Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/iowa"},{"state":"Kansas","code":"KS","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In Kansas, a felony conviction in any state or federal court takes away the right to vote until the terms of the sentence are complete, including prison, probation, parole and any supervised release. The Secretary of State says unpaid criminal fines, restitution or court costs may make a person ineligible, though people who have been officially discharged with any amount owed sent to civil collections are generally eligible. Once the sentence is complete the right returns without an application, but registration is not automatic, so the person must register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"K.S.A. 21-6613(b) says the ineligibility attaches on conviction and continues 'until such person has completed the terms of the authorized sentence.' The Secretary of State says voting rights are restored on completion of the felony sentence, 'including all supervised release,' and that registration is not automatic. Under K.S.A. 22-3722, a discharge from parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision, or after serving the full term of imprisonment, restores all civil rights lost by operation of law upon commitment, and the certificate of discharge says so. No proof of final discharge is needed to register, but the registration form's affidavit states that, if convicted of a felony, the person has had their civil rights restored, and signing a false affidavit is a crime. People unsure whether their rights were restored are directed to the court where their case was filed. The Secretary of State also says being required to register as an offender after completing a sentence does not prevent registering to vote.","fines_and_fees":"some","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Secretary of State says: 'Unpaid criminal fines, restitution, or court costs may make you ineligible to vote. Verify with the court if any amounts owed prevent the restoration of your civil rights.' It adds that, generally, a person who has been officially discharged and whose remaining balance has been sent to civil collections is eligible to vote.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.ks.gov/elections/register-to-vote-felony.html","title":"Registering to Vote After Completing a Felony Sentence (Kansas Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Kan. Const. art. 5, § 2","url":"https://www.ksrevisor.gov/kanconst/093_005_0002.html"},{"cite":"K.S.A. 21-6613","url":"https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_066_0013.html"},{"cite":"K.S.A. 22-3722","url":"https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch22/022_037_0022.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.ks.gov/elections/register-to-vote-felony.html","title":"Registering to Vote After Completing a Felony Sentence","publisher":"Kansas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_066_0013.html","title":"K.S.A. 21-6613, Rights of imprisoned persons; restoration","publisher":"Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch22/022_037_0022.html","title":"K.S.A. 22-3722, Service on parole, conditional release and postrelease supervision; discharge; restoration of civil rights","publisher":"Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ksrevisor.gov/kanconst/093_005_0002.html","title":"Kansas Constitution, Article 5, Section 2, Disqualification to vote","publisher":"Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.ks.gov/elections/proposed-constitutional-amendments.html","title":"Proposed Constitutional Amendments (2026 General Election)","publisher":"Kansas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/kansas"},{"state":"Kentucky","code":"KY","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"Kentucky's Constitution takes away the right to vote after a felony conviction unless it is restored by the Governor. Under Executive Order 2019-003, the right is restored automatically to people convicted of most Kentucky felonies once they have finished prison, probation and parole, even if they still owe fines or restitution, and they can then register to vote. People convicted of an offense the order excludes (including treason, bribery in an election and violent offenses defined in KRS 439.3401) or of any federal or out-of-state felony are not covered and must apply to the Governor.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"Executive Order 2019-003 (December 12, 2019) restores the rights to vote and hold public office to people convicted of crimes under Kentucky law who have satisfied the terms of their probation, parole or service of sentence ('Final Discharge'), with both retroactive and prospective effect. It does not apply to anyone with a pending felony charge or arrest at the time of final discharge, or to people convicted of the excluded offenses. The state's Civil Rights Restoration site says people are notified of eligibility on discharge, offers a status lookup, and directs eligible people to register through the Voter Information Portal. People who are not covered may apply to the Governor for restoration of civil rights under KRS 196.045, by email to CivilRights.Restoration@ky.gov or by mail to the Department of Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole, P.O. Box 2400, Frankfort, KY 40602-2400, Attn: Restoration of Civil Rights. Questions about whether a conviction is excluded go to 502-782-9731. KRS 116.113(4) has the State Board of Elections remove from the voter rolls anyone reported as convicted of a felony, including while the case is on appeal.","fines_and_fees":"some","fines_and_fees_detail":"For automatic restoration, the order applies 'exclusive of restitution, fines, and any other court-ordered monetary conditions,' and the state's FAQ says rights are restored even if those amounts are unpaid (the order does not cancel the debt). For people with an excluded Kentucky offense who apply to the Governor, the Civil Rights Restoration site says they may petition if they have completed their sentence and do not owe fines or restitution.","lost_for_good_for":["Treason","Bribery in an election","A violent offense defined in KRS 439.3401","Any offense under KRS Chapter 507 or KRS Chapter 507A","Assault as defined in KRS 508.020 or KRS 508.040","Any offense under KRS 508.170 (first-degree strangulation)","Any offense under KRS 529.100 (human trafficking)","Any felony conviction in another state or in the federal system"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2019-12-12","detail":"Governor Andy Beshear's Executive Order 2019-003 automatically restored the rights to vote and hold office to people convicted of Kentucky crimes, other than the listed excluded offenses, who have completed probation, parole or their sentence, without requiring payment of restitution, fines or other court-ordered monetary conditions.","source":{"url":"https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Documents/Civil%20Rights%20Restoration%20Executive%20Order.pdf","title":"Executive Order 2019-003, Relating to the Restoration of Civil Rights for Convicted Felons","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Kentucky","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Pages/qualify.aspx","title":"Can You Vote? (Kentucky Civil Rights Restoration)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Ky. Const. § 145","url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Law/Constitution/Constitution/ViewConstitution?rsn=166"},{"cite":"Ky. Exec. Order No. 2019-003 (Dec. 12, 2019)","url":"https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Documents/Civil%20Rights%20Restoration%20Executive%20Order.pdf"},{"cite":"KRS 116.113(4)","url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=58059"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Pages/qualify.aspx","title":"Can You Vote?","publisher":"Kentucky Civil Rights Restoration (Commonwealth of Kentucky)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Pages/faq.aspx","title":"Frequently Asked Questions - Civil Rights Restoration","publisher":"Kentucky Civil Rights Restoration (Commonwealth of Kentucky)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Documents/Civil%20Rights%20Restoration%20Executive%20Order.pdf","title":"Executive Order 2019-003","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Kentucky","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Law/Constitution/Constitution/ViewConstitution?rsn=166","title":"Constitution of Kentucky, Section 145, Persons entitled to vote","publisher":"Kentucky General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=58059","title":"KRS 116.113, Removal of voter's name by state board","publisher":"Kentucky General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/SB80.html","title":"26RS SB 80, bill record","publisher":"Kentucky General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.ky.gov/elections/Pages/Constitutional-Amendments.aspx","title":"2026 Constitutional Amendments","publisher":"Kentucky Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/kentucky"},{"state":"Louisiana","code":"LA","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Louisiana, a person who is under an order of imprisonment for a felony conviction cannot register or vote, and the order can continue during probation or parole. A person still under the order who has not been incarcerated under it in the last five years may register and vote, unless the conviction is for election fraud or another election offense. To reinstate a registration suspended for a felony, the person must go in person to the registrar of voters with documentation from the appropriate correction official.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"automatic_with_conditions","restoration_detail":"A person under an order of imprisonment for a felony conviction may not register or vote (La. R.S. 18:102(A)(1)(a)); the Legislature's digest of Act 636 of 2018 describes R.S. 18:2(8) as applying the prohibition during a sentence of confinement, 'whether or not suspended,' whether or not the person has been placed on probation, and whether or not the person has been paroled. Eligibility returns when the person is no longer under the order. Since March 1, 2019, a person still under the order who has not been incarcerated under it within the last five years is also eligible (R.S. 18:102(A)(1)(b)), except a person convicted of felony election fraud or another election offense under R.S. 18:1461.2 who is under an order of imprisonment (R.S. 18:102(A)(1)(c)). 'Incarcerated pursuant to the order' includes confinement after conviction but before sentencing that is credited in the order and confinement after a probation or parole revocation, but not confinement for a violation that does not lead to revocation (R.S. 18:102(C)). When a registrar has information that a registrant is under such an order and was incarcerated under it within the last five years, or was convicted of an election offense, the registrar sends a notice and, if the person does not appear within 21 days to show cause, suspends the registration (R.S. 18:176(A)). A suspended registration is reinstated when the person appears at the registrar of voters office with documentation from the appropriate correction official showing that they are no longer under an order of imprisonment, or that they have not been incarcerated under it within the last five years and are not under an order for an election offense (R.S. 18:177(A)(1)). Certain voters with disabilities may send the documentation by mail, fax, commercial carrier or hand delivery instead (R.S. 18:177(A)(2)). The Department of Public Safety and Corrections must give people who complete their orders of imprisonment information on registering and reinstating and a state mail voter registration application (R.S. 18:177.1). A person convicted of a felony before the 1974 Constitution who has fully completed the sentence is not ineligible (R.S. 18:102(B)).","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":null,"lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2022-02-01","detail":"Act 127 of 2021 (HB 378), effective February 1, 2022, amended the five-year provision in R.S. 18:102(A)(1)(b) (the current text no longer conditions it on submitting documentation to the registrar) and added R.S. 18:102(C), which defines 'incarcerated pursuant to the order.' It also amended the felony-conviction reports and the registrar notice and suspension provisions (R.S. 18:171, 18:171.1 and 18:176).","source":{"url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1229484","title":"Enrolled HB 378, 2021 Regular Session","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.la.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-faqs","title":"Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions (Louisiana Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"La. R.S. 18:102","url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81243"},{"cite":"La. R.S. 18:176(A)","url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81502"},{"cite":"La. R.S. 18:177","url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81503"},{"cite":"La. R.S. 18:177.1","url":"https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=630671"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81243","title":"La. R.S. 18:102, Ineligible persons","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81502","title":"La. R.S. 18:176, Suspension and cancellation of registration","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81503","title":"La. R.S. 18:177, Reinstatement of registration after suspension","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.la.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-faqs","title":"Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions","publisher":"Louisiana Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=630671","title":"La. R.S. 18:177.1, Satisfaction of order of imprisonment; provision of information relative to registration and reinstatement","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1108911","title":"Résumé Digest, Act 636 (HB 265), 2018 Regular Session","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1229484","title":"Enrolled HB 378 (Act 127), 2021 Regular Session","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26RS&b=HB361&sbi=y","title":"HB 361, 2026 Regular Session, bill status","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=24RS&b=SB134&sbi=y","title":"SB 134, 2024 Regular Session, bill status","publisher":"Louisiana State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.la.gov/media/j2fjvpye/proposed-constitutional-amendments-2026-nov-summaries.pdf","title":"Statements of Proposed Constitutional Amendments, November 3, 2026","publisher":"Louisiana Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/louisiana"},{"state":"Maine","code":"ME","answer":"never_lost","summary":"Maine law lets people who are incarcerated in a correctional facility or county jail register and vote, so a criminal conviction does not take away the right to vote. A person who is incarcerated registers in the Maine municipality where they lived before incarceration, not where they are held (unless they lived there before).","in_prison":"can_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"never_lost","restoration_detail":"No restoration is needed. Under 21-A M.R.S. § 112(14), the voting residence of a person incarcerated in a correctional facility or county jail does not include the municipality where they are incarcerated unless they lived there before, and a person incarcerated in a correctional facility may apply to register in any municipality where they previously established a fixed and principal home to which they intend to return. The Secretary of State's Voting Residence Fact Sheet says a person incarcerated in a correctional facility or county jail is entitled to register in the Maine municipality where they lived before incarceration.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Because a conviction does not take away the right to vote in Maine, there is nothing to pay to get it back.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"no","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/registering-to-vote/maine-voting-residence-fact-sheet","title":"Maine Voting Residence Fact Sheet (Maine Secretary of State, Elections Division)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Me. Const. art. II, § 1","url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/ros/LawsOfMaine/#Const"},{"cite":"21-A M.R.S. § 112(14)","url":"https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec112.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/registering-to-vote/maine-voting-residence-fact-sheet","title":"Maine Voting Residence Fact Sheet (updated September 2022)","publisher":"Maine Secretary of State, Elections Division","accessed":"2026-10-30"},{"url":"https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec112.html","title":"21-A M.R.S. § 112, Residence for voting purposes","publisher":"Maine Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/ros/LawsOfMaine/#Const","title":"Maine State Constitution, Article II, Section 1","publisher":"Maine Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec111.html","title":"21-A M.R.S. § 111, General qualifications","publisher":"Maine Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/upcoming-elections","title":"Upcoming Elections (November 3, 2026 General Election)","publisher":"Maine Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/peoples-veto-or-citizens-initiative-resources/current-citizen-initiatives-and-peoples-vetoes","title":"Current Citizen Initiatives and People's Vetoes","publisher":"Maine Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-30","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/maine"},{"state":"Maryland","code":"MD","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Maryland, a person convicted of a felony cannot register or vote while serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment for it. Eligibility returns on release from prison, including for people on parole or probation, and the person then registers to vote. A conviction for buying or selling votes is the exception: it disqualifies a person even after the sentence is complete, and the law gives no end date.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Eligibility returns automatically once the person is no longer serving the court-ordered sentence of imprisonment (Election Law § 3-102(b)(1)). The corrections department's guide says a person is eligible to register as soon as they are released from the correctional facility, whether on parole or because the sentence is complete, and state law requires the department to give each released person a voter registration application and to post signs in parole and probation offices saying that anyone no longer incarcerated has the right to vote (Correctional Services § 2-601). The person registers again after release (see must_reregister). A person convicted of a felony again loses eligibility until released again. No restoration process is stated for people convicted of buying or selling votes.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The only conviction-based bar for a felony is serving the sentence of imprisonment (Election Law § 3-102(b)(1)); the law does not list payment of fines, fees or restitution as a condition, and the official pages opened don't mention payment.","lost_for_good_for":["Buying or selling votes"],"exception":"People convicted of buying or selling votes are not eligible to register or vote, even after completing their sentence.","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2016-03-10","detail":"Effective March 10, 2016, a person convicted of a felony became eligible to register to vote once the court-ordered sentence of imprisonment is completed. The corrections department's guide says this includes people released on parole.","source":{"url":"https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html","title":"Voter Registration","publisher":"Maryland State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":{"date":"2027-01-01","detail":"Senate Bill 241 of 2026 (Chapter 427), approved by the Governor on May 12, 2026 and effective January 1, 2027, requires the corrections department to send the State Board of Elections a monthly list of people released from State correctional facilities, and requires the Board to promptly restore the voter registration, with active status, of each person who was registered in Maryland before being incarcerated and whose new address is in the state, and to send them a notice. The Board and the department must have the procedures in place by January 1, 2028. Until this takes effect, people released from prison need to register again.","source":{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0241?ys=2026RS","title":"SB0241 (2026): Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration (Chapter 427)","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html","title":"Voter Registration (Maryland State Board of Elections)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Md. Code, Election Law § 3-102(b)","url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-102&enactments=false"},{"cite":"Md. Code, Election Law § 3-501","url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-501&enactments=false"},{"cite":"Md. Code, Election Law § 3-504(a)","url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-504&enactments=false"},{"cite":"Md. Code, Election Law § 16-201","url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=16-201&enactments=false"},{"cite":"Md. Code, Correctional Services § 2-601","url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcs&section=2-601&enactments=false"},{"cite":"2026 Md. Laws ch. 427 (SB 241), adding Election Law § 3-203.1, effective January 1, 2027","url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_427_sb0241t.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-102&enactments=false","title":"Election Law § 3-102, Qualifications for registration","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html","title":"Voter Registration","publisher":"Maryland State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://news.maryland.gov/dpscs/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/06/Restoration-of-Voting-Rights.pdf","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights in Maryland (June 2022)","publisher":"Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://dpscs.maryland.gov/inmateservs/vote_restoration.shtml","title":"Voting While Incarcerated in a Correctional Facility","publisher":"Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcs&section=2-601&enactments=false","title":"Correctional Services § 2-601, Voting rights information for released individuals","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-501&enactments=false","title":"Election Law § 3-501, Removal of names from registry","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-504&enactments=false","title":"Election Law § 3-504, Reports of deaths and felony convictions","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=16-201&enactments=false","title":"Election Law § 16-201, Voting offenses","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0241?ys=2026RS","title":"SB0241 (2026), Chapter 427: bill page, chapter text and revised fiscal and policy note","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/fnotes/bil_0001/sb0241.pdf","title":"Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised), Senate Bill 241 (2026)","publisher":"Maryland Department of Legislative Services","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gel&section=3-102&enactments=true","title":"Election Law § 3-102 (view including pending enactments)","publisher":"Maryland General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/ballot_questions.html","title":"Ballot Questions for the November 3, 2026 Election","publisher":"Maryland State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/maryland"},{"state":"Massachusetts","code":"MA","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Massachusetts, people cannot register or vote while they are incarcerated in a correctional facility because of a felony conviction. The right returns on release with no waiting period, and the person fills out a new voter registration form; people incarcerated for any other reason can register and vote. The exception is a conviction for violating a law on corrupt practices in elections, which removes the person from the voter rolls for three years.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The felony bar applies only while a person is 'incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction' (Mass. Const. amend. art. III, as amended by art. CXX; G.L. c. 51, § 1). The Secretary of the Commonwealth's advisory says that on release no further action is needed and there is no waiting period, but the person must complete a new voter registration form upon becoming eligible. A person convicted of violating a law relating to corrupt practices in elections is struck from the voter rolls for three years (G.L. c. 55, § 42).","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The right is lost only during felony incarceration, and the Secretary's advisory says no further action is needed after release beyond a new registration form; payment is not a condition.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":"People convicted of violating a law relating to corrupt practices in elections are removed from the voter rolls for three years.","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/voter-resources/registering-to-vote.htm","title":"Registering to Vote (Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Mass. Const. amend. art. III (as amended by arts. XL and CXX)","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution"},{"cite":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 51, § 1","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter51/Section1"},{"cite":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 55, § 42","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter55/Section42"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/advisories/advisory-22-09.pdf","title":"Election Advisory #22-09: Regarding Voting While Incarcerated","publisher":"Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/voter-resources/registering-to-vote.htm","title":"Registering to Vote","publisher":"Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter51/Section1","title":"General Laws ch. 51, § 1, Qualifications of voters","publisher":"Massachusetts Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution","title":"Massachusetts Constitution (Articles of Amendment III, XL, CXX)","publisher":"Massachusetts Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter55/Section42","title":"General Laws ch. 55, § 42, Forwarding certified copy of record of final judgment or conviction to city or town clerk; disqualification of defendant as voter","publisher":"Massachusetts Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter55/Section2","title":"General Laws ch. 55, § 2 (penalty of up to one year in jail), and §§ 32-33 (corrupt practices by candidates; election petitions)","publisher":"Massachusetts Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/2026-ballot-questions.htm","title":"2026 State Election Ballot Questions","publisher":"Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/massachusetts"},{"state":"Michigan","code":"MI","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Michigan, a person who has been convicted and sentenced to jail or prison cannot vote while confined, whether the conviction is for a felony or a misdemeanor. The right returns on release, including for people on parole or probation. People held in jail before trial or before sentencing can register and vote.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The bar lasts only while the person is confined under the sentence (MCL 168.758b). The Secretary of State says people with a felony or misdemeanor conviction can register as long as they are not actively serving a sentence in jail or prison, which means people on parole or probation can register; someone serving jail time as part of a sentence cannot vote while confined. Since June 30, 2025, the Secretary of State and the Department of Corrections must coordinate so that eligible people are automatically registered to vote, with the chance to decline, when they are released from a prison sentence on parole or at discharge (MCL 168.493b(6)). The official sources opened don't say whether an earlier registration is cancelled during confinement, so a person released from jail or prison should check their registration status.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The law bars voting only while a person is confined under the sentence (MCL 168.758b); payment of fines, fees or restitution is not a condition.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"not_stated","recent_change":{"date":"2025-06-30","detail":"Public Act 268 of 2023 (House Bill 4983) added MCL 168.493b, effective June 30, 2025. It requires the Secretary of State and the Department of Corrections to make sure eligible people are automatically registered to vote, with the opportunity to decline, on release from incarceration imposed as a sentence, and not before release on parole or discharge. It did not change who is eligible to vote.","source":{"url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-493b","title":"MCL 168.493b, Automatic voter registration agencies (Add. 2023, Act 268, Eff. June 30, 2025)","publisher":"Michigan Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/register-to-vote","title":"Register to vote (Michigan Department of State), including 'Can I register to vote if I have a criminal record?'"},"statute":[{"cite":"MCL 168.758b","url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-758b"},{"cite":"MCL 168.492a","url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-492a"},{"cite":"MCL 168.493b(6)","url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-493b"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-758b","title":"MCL 168.758b, Voting by persons confined in jail or prison prohibited","publisher":"Michigan Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-492a","title":"MCL 168.492a, Registration of individuals confined in jail","publisher":"Michigan Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/register-to-vote","title":"Register to vote","publisher":"Michigan Department of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-168-493b","title":"MCL 168.493b, Automatic voter registration agencies","publisher":"Michigan Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-HB-4983","title":"House Bill 4983 of 2023 (Public Act 268 of 2023)","publisher":"Michigan Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2024-SB-0835","title":"Senate Bill 835 of 2024","publisher":"Michigan Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/michigan"},{"state":"Minnesota","code":"MN","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Minnesota, people lose the right to vote only while they are incarcerated serving a felony sentence. The right is restored during any period when they are not incarcerated for the offense, including on parole or probation and on work release. The Secretary of State says people in this situation need to register to vote.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a, a person who is ineligible because of a felony conviction has the right to vote restored during any period when the person is not incarcerated for the offense; if the person is later incarcerated for that offense, the right is lost only during that incarceration. People on work release (sections 241.26 or 244.065) or released under section 631.425 are not considered incarcerated. The Secretary of State says the person will need to register to vote. Under Minn. Stat. § 243.205, correctional facilities must give people released after a felony-level sentence, and probation or supervised release agents must give everyone under supervision for a felony-level offense, a notice that their right to vote has been restored and a voter registration application; a missing notice does not prevent restoration. The Secretary of State says people living in a residential reentry center for a non-incarcerated purpose can vote and should ask their probation officer if unsure whether they count as incarcerated.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Restoration depends only on not being incarcerated for the offense (§ 201.014, subd. 2a); payment of fines, fees or restitution is not a condition.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2023-06-01","detail":"Laws 2023, chapter 12 (signed March 3, 2023) added Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a, restoring the right to vote to people with felony convictions during any period when they are not incarcerated for the offense, and required notices of restoration (§ 243.205). Laws 2023, chapter 62, article 4, section 10 re-enacted subd. 2a with the work-release clause, effective June 1, 2023. In 2024 (Laws 2024, ch. 112) the Legislature rewrote the required form of the restoration notice.","source":{"url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/62/","title":"Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 62 (article 4, section 10 amends § 201.014, subd. 2a, effective June 1, 2023)","publisher":"Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/i-have-a-criminal-record","title":"I have a criminal record (Minnesota Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subds. 2 and 2a","url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/201.014"},{"cite":"Minn. Stat. § 243.205","url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/243.205"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/i-have-a-criminal-record","title":"I have a criminal record","publisher":"Minnesota Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/201.014","title":"Minn. Stat. § 201.014, Eligibility to vote","publisher":"Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/243.205","title":"Minn. Stat. § 243.205, Notice of restoration of right to vote","publisher":"Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/12/","title":"Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 12 (H.F. No. 28)","publisher":"Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/62/","title":"Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 62, article 4, section 10","publisher":"Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/constitutionalamendments","title":"Constitutional Amendments (proposed and adopted, by ballot year)","publisher":"Minnesota Legislative Reference Library","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/minnesota"},{"state":"Mississippi","code":"MS","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Mississippi, a conviction for one of the crimes on the state's list of disenfranchising crimes, such as murder, theft, forgery or voter fraud, takes away the right to vote for life unless it is restored, and restoration is never automatic: it takes an individual suffrage bill passed by two-thirds of the Legislature, a governor's pardon, or, for some people discharged from probation, a governor's executive order. A conviction for a crime that is not on the list does not take away the right to vote, even in jail or prison; since July 1, 2024, people held in jail or prison in the county where they are registered who have not been convicted of a disenfranchising crime can vote by absentee ballot. The Secretary of State's list is the official guide to which convictions count.","in_prison":"depends","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"application","restoration_detail":"The Secretary of State describes three routes, none automatic: (1) ask a state senator or representative to introduce a suffrage bill at the next session; the Legislature may restore the right by a two-thirds vote of all members elected to both houses (Miss. Const. art. 12, § 253); (2) a person discharged from probation by the court of original jurisdiction can make a written request to their field officer, who sends a report of the person's probation record to the Division of Community Corrections, which presents it to the Governor, who may restore suffrage by executive order at his discretion (Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-41); or (3) a governor's pardon (Miss. Const. art. 5, § 124), which requires publishing the pardon request for thirty days in a newspaper in the county where the crime was committed (or an adjoining county if there is none) and including proof of publication with the petition. People convicted only of crimes not on the list never lose the right and need no restoration. After restoration, the person would register through the circuit clerk; the official sources opened don't describe that step.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Secretary of State's document doesn't say whether fines, fees or restitution must be paid before a suffrage bill, executive order or pardon.","lost_for_good_for":["Arson","Bribery","Extortion","Larceny","Perjury","Robbery","Theft","Carjacking","Larceny under lease","Armed robbery","Felony bad check","Felony shoplifting","Statutory rape","Timber larceny","Unlawful taking of a motor vehicle","Receiving stolen property","Obtaining money or goods under false pretense","Bigamy","Embezzlement","Forgery","Murder","Rape","Voter fraud"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"not_stated","recent_change":{"date":"2025-01-27","detail":"The U.S. Supreme Court denied review in Hopkins v. Watson (No. 24-560), the challenge to Mississippi's lifetime voting ban for disenfranchising crimes, leaving in place the en banc Fifth Circuit's July 18, 2024 decision upholding it (Nos. 19-60662, 19-60678). Earlier, House Bill 1406 (2024), effective July 1, 2024, added an absentee-voting category for qualified electors held in jail or prison in their home county who have not been convicted of a disenfranchising crime. In the 2026 session, every general restoration bill and proposed constitutional amendment died; the Governor approved some individual suffrage bills for named people on April 8, 2026.","source":{"url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-560.html","title":"Docket No. 24-560, Hopkins v. Watson","publisher":"Supreme Court of the United States","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/elections/2025%20Disenfranchising%20Crimes.pdf","title":"Disenfranchising Crimes and Restoration of Right to Vote (Mississippi Secretary of State, 2025)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Miss. Const. art. 12, § 241","url":null},{"cite":"Miss. Const. art. 12, § 253","url":null},{"cite":"Miss. Const. art. 5, § 124","url":null},{"cite":"Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-11","url":null},{"cite":"Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-713(i) (as amended by 2024 H.B. 1406)","url":"https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2024/pdf/HB/1400-1499/HB1406SG.pdf"},{"cite":"Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-41","url":null}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/elections/2025%20Disenfranchising%20Crimes.pdf","title":"Disenfranchising Crimes (2025)","publisher":"Mississippi Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-faqs","title":"Election FAQs (links the current Disenfranchising Crimes document)","publisher":"Mississippi Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-560.html","title":"Docket No. 24-560, Hopkins v. Watson","publisher":"Supreme Court of the United States","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/all_measures/allmsrs.xml","title":"2026 Regular Session: Report of All Measures","publisher":"Mississippi Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/19/19-60662-CV1.pdf","title":"Hopkins v. Watson, No. 19-60662 c/w No. 19-60678 (5th Cir. July 18, 2024) (en banc)","publisher":"U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2024/pdf/HB/1400-1499/HB1406SG.pdf","title":"House Bill 1406 (2024 Regular Session), as sent to the Governor (amends Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-713; effective July 1, 2024)","publisher":"Mississippi Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2024/pdf/all_measures/allmsrs.xml","title":"2024 Regular Session: Report of All Measures (HB 1406: Law without Governor's signature, May 14)","publisher":"Mississippi Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/mississippi"},{"state":"Missouri","code":"MO","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Missouri, people cannot vote while confined under a sentence of imprisonment for any offense. Since August 28, 2026, the right returns on release for most people, including people on probation or parole, but people on probation or parole for certain listed felonies, including sexual offenses, first- or second-degree murder and first- or second-degree assault, cannot vote until they are finally discharged. A conviction for a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage (an election offense) bars a person from registering and voting for good.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"For most people, the bar ends on release from confinement, even while on probation or parole (RSMo 115.133.2(1)). People on probation or parole after a felony conviction under RSMo chapter 566 (sexual offenses) or chapter 573 (pornography and related offenses), or sections 565.020 (first-degree murder), 565.021 (second-degree murder), 565.050 (first-degree assault), 565.052 (second-degree assault), 565.072 (first-degree domestic assault), 565.079 (prior and persistent assault offenders), 568.020 (incest), 568.045 (first-degree endangering the welfare of a child) or 569.160 (first-degree burglary) regain the right when finally discharged from probation or parole (RSMo 115.133.2(2)). In both cases no application is needed. No restoration process is stated for a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage, other than expungement where the law allows it (see permanent_detail). The official sources opened don't say whether a person must register again.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"RSMo 115.133 and 561.026 don't make payment of fines, fees or restitution a condition; the right returns on release, or for the listed felonies at final discharge from probation or parole.","lost_for_good_for":["A felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage (class one and class three election offenses)"],"exception":"People on probation or parole for a felony under RSMo chapter 566 or 573 or sections 565.020, 565.021, 565.050, 565.052, 565.072, 565.079, 568.020, 568.045 or 569.160 (including sexual offenses, first- or second-degree murder, first- or second-degree assault, incest and first-degree burglary) cannot vote until finally discharged, and people convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage are barred from registering and voting permanently.","must_reregister":"not_stated","recent_change":{"date":"2026-08-28","detail":"House Bill 1871 (2026; SS SCS HCS HB 1871, 'Modifies provisions relating to elections'), approved by the Governor on July 13, 2026 and effective August 28, 2026, amended RSMo 115.133.2(2). Before, no one on probation or parole after any felony conviction could vote until finally discharged; now that bar applies only to felonies under chapters 566 and 573 and sections 565.020, 565.021, 565.050, 565.052, 565.072, 565.079, 568.020, 568.045 and 569.160. The bar while confined under a sentence of imprisonment and the permanent bar for offenses connected with the right of suffrage did not change.","source":{"url":"https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1871&year=2026&code=R","title":"HB 1871 (2026): Modifies provisions relating to elections","publisher":"Missouri House of Representatives","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register","title":"Register to Vote (Missouri Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"RSMo 115.133","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.133"},{"cite":"RSMo 561.026","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=561.026"},{"cite":"RSMo 115.195","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.195"},{"cite":"RSMo 115.199","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.199"},{"cite":"RSMo 115.631, 115.633, 115.635","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.631"},{"cite":"RSMo 610.140","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=610.140"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.133","title":"RSMo 115.133, Qualifications of voters (effective August 28, 2026)","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=561.026","title":"RSMo 561.026, Disqualification from voting and jury service","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=565.020","title":"RSMo 565.020, 565.021, 565.050, 565.052, 565.072, 565.079, 568.020, 568.045, 569.160 and chapters 566 and 573 (section and chapter titles)","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.195","title":"RSMo 115.195, Death, felony and misdemeanor convictions: records","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.199","title":"RSMo 115.199, Persons convicted and pardoned, how handled","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1871&year=2026&code=R","title":"HB 1871 (2026) bill information: Governor approved 07/13/2026, effective 8/28/2026","publisher":"Missouri House of Representatives","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.133&bid=5986","title":"RSMo 115.133 (version effective 8/28/2003 to 8/28/2026)","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-30"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.631","title":"RSMo 115.631 (class one election offenses), 115.633 (class two) and 115.635 (class three)","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=610.140","title":"RSMo 610.140, Expungement of certain criminal records","publisher":"Missouri Revisor of Statutes","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures","title":"2026 Ballot Measures","publisher":"Missouri Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register","title":"Register to Vote","publisher":"Missouri Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-30","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/missouri"},{"state":"Montana","code":"MT","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Montana, a person convicted of a felony cannot vote while serving the sentence in a penal institution. The right returns once the person is no longer serving the sentence in a penal institution, including on parole or probation, but the voter registration is cancelled during the incarceration, so the person must register again. The Attorney General has said people with felony convictions placed at the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs also cannot vote.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under Mont. Const. art. IV, § 2 and MCA 13-1-111(2), a person convicted of a felony does not have the right to vote 'while the person is serving a sentence in a penal institution'; the bar ends when that ends. The Attorney General's October 2024 release says people with felony convictions 'placed in a non-confined status, such as parole, probation, or a deferred or suspended sentences' are eligible to vote. The county election administrator cancels a registration when 'the incarceration of the elector in a penal institution for a felony conviction is legally established' (MCA 13-2-402(4)), so the person must register again. In an October 2024 binding opinion, the Attorney General said people with felony convictions placed at the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs for psychiatric treatment remain in confined status and cannot vote.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The bar is tied only to serving the sentence in a penal institution (MCA 13-1-111(2)); payment of fines, fees or restitution is not a condition.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2024-10-22","detail":"Attorney General Knudsen issued a binding opinion that people with felony convictions placed at the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs for psychiatric treatment are prohibited from voting, like people held in other correctional facilities.","source":{"url":"https://dojmt.gov/attorney-general-knudsen-issues-binding-opinion-on-voter-eligibility-of-felons-at-warm-springs/","title":"Attorney General Knudsen issues binding opinion on voter eligibility of felons at Warm Springs","publisher":"Montana Department of Justice","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://votemt.gov/frequently-asked-questions/","title":"Frequently Asked Questions: Who Can Register to Vote? (Vote Montana, Montana Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Mont. Const. art. IV, § 2","url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0000/article_0040/part_0010/section_0020/0000-0040-0010-0020.html"},{"cite":"MCA 13-1-111(2)","url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0130/chapter_0010/part_0010/section_0110/0130-0010-0010-0110.html"},{"cite":"MCA 13-2-402(4)","url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0130/chapter_0020/part_0040/section_0020/0130-0020-0040-0020.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0130/chapter_0010/part_0010/section_0110/0130-0010-0010-0110.html","title":"MCA 13-1-111, Qualifications of voter","publisher":"Montana Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0130/chapter_0020/part_0040/section_0020/0130-0020-0040-0020.html","title":"MCA 13-2-402, Reasons for cancellation","publisher":"Montana Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://dojmt.gov/attorney-general-knudsen-issues-binding-opinion-on-voter-eligibility-of-felons-at-warm-springs/","title":"Attorney General Knudsen issues binding opinion on voter eligibility of felons at Warm Springs (October 22, 2024)","publisher":"Montana Department of Justice","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://votemt.gov/frequently-asked-questions/","title":"Frequently Asked Questions","publisher":"Vote Montana (Montana Secretary of State)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0000/article_0040/part_0010/section_0020/0000-0040-0010-0020.html","title":"Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Qualified elector","publisher":"Montana Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sosmt.gov/elections/ballot_issues/proposed-2026-ballot-issues/","title":"Proposed 2026 Ballot Issues (issues qualified for the 2026 general election)","publisher":"Montana Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/montana"},{"state":"Nebraska","code":"NE","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In Nebraska, a person convicted of a felony cannot register or vote until the whole sentence is complete, including any prison term, parole and probation. The right then comes back automatically when the sentence ends, and the person must submit a new voter registration application. People convicted of treason are the exception and must apply to have their civil rights restored first.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-112 and 32-313(1), a person convicted of a felony is not qualified to vote or register 'until the sentence is completed, including any parole term,' and the disqualification 'is automatically removed at such time.' The Secretary of State says rights return on completing incarceration plus any parole or probation (an unsatisfactory discharge from probation does not stop it), that the person should receive notice of completion, and that the person must then submit a new voter registration application. It suggests confirming completion with the clerk of the district court where the sentence was imposed, the Department of Corrections or the supervising parole officer before registering. A pardon also restores eligibility. People convicted of treason must first apply for restoration of civil rights.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"The law ties restoration to completing 'the sentence, including any parole term'; neither the statutes nor the Secretary of State's page say whether unpaid fines, fees, costs or restitution delay it.","lost_for_good_for":["Treason (under Nebraska or federal law)"],"exception":"People convicted of treason under Nebraska or federal law must apply to have their civil rights restored before they can register or vote.","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2024-04-17","detail":"LB 20 (2024), 'Provide for restoration of voting rights upon completion of a felony sentence or probation for a felony,' amended Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-112 and 32-313 so that the disqualification ends automatically when the sentence, including any parole term, is complete. It became law without the Governor's signature on April 17, 2024. In State ex rel. Spung v. Evnen, 317 Neb. 800 (2024), the Nebraska Supreme Court applied the law, holding that the statute does not require the Secretary of State to take an affirmative act to remove the disqualification once a sentence is completed.","source":{"url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50027","title":"LB20 (108th Legislature): Provide for restoration of voting rights upon completion of a felony sentence or probation for a felony","publisher":"Nebraska Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/felon-voting-rights","title":"Felon Voting Rights (Nebraska Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-112","url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=29-112"},{"cite":"Neb. Rev. Stat. 32-313","url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=32-313"},{"cite":"Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-2264(1) (probation discharge order gives notice that voting rights are restored)","url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=29-2264"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/felon-voting-rights","title":"Felon Voting Rights","publisher":"Nebraska Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=29-112","title":"Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-112 (with annotations)","publisher":"Nebraska Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=32-313","title":"Neb. Rev. Stat. 32-313 (with annotations)","publisher":"Nebraska Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50027","title":"LB20 bill page and history (108th Legislature); slip law and introduced text","publisher":"Nebraska Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Slip/LB20.pdf","title":"LB20 slip law (Laws 2024, LB20), showing the amended text of 29-112, 29-113, 29-2264 and 32-313","publisher":"Nebraska Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections","title":"2026 Elections (2026 ballot measures: Initiatives 440, 441 and 442 and LR19CA)","publisher":"Nebraska Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59458&docnum=LR19CA&leg=109","title":"LR19CA (109th Legislature): Constitutional amendment to change legislative term limits to three consecutive terms","publisher":"Nebraska Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/nebraska"},{"state":"Nevada","code":"NV","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Nevada, a person convicted of a felony cannot register or vote while serving a term of imprisonment. The right is restored automatically and immediately on release from prison, including for people on parole or probation and for convictions from other states or federal court. A registration cancelled because of the conviction can be renewed by registering again after release, with no proof of restoration required.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under NRS 213.157(1), a person convicted of a felony who is placed on probation, granted parole or pardoned, or who has served the sentence and been released from prison, 'is immediately restored to the right to vote.' The Secretary of State says there is no waiting period or action required, regardless of the category of felony. A registration cancelled because of a felony conviction and current incarceration (NRS 293.540(2)(c)) may be renewed by registering again on release (NRS 293.543(2)), and the county clerk may not require a court order or other document to prove restoration (NRS 293.543(4)).","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Restoration is immediate on release, parole, probation or pardon (NRS 213.157(1)), and the Secretary of State says no action is required; payment is not a condition. If release papers are lost, a court order restoring civil rights must be issued without a fee (NRS 213.157(3)).","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2019-07-01","detail":"Assembly Bill 431 (2019) took effect, restoring the right to vote immediately on release from prison for anyone convicted of a felony, including people on parole or probation, and restoring it as of July 1, 2019 for people already out of prison.","source":{"url":"https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/restoration-of-voting-rights-in-nevada","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights in Nevada","publisher":"Nevada Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/restoration-of-voting-rights-in-nevada","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights in Nevada (Nevada Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"NRS 213.157","url":"https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-213.html"},{"cite":"NRS 293.540(2)(c)","url":"https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-293.html"},{"cite":"NRS 293.543","url":"https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-293.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/restoration-of-voting-rights-in-nevada","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights in Nevada","publisher":"Nevada Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-213.html","title":"NRS chapter 213, section 213.157","publisher":"Nevada Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-293.html","title":"NRS chapter 293, sections 293.540 and 293.543","publisher":"Nevada Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/elections/services/voter_registration/reg-felons","title":"Voting Rights in Nevada for Convicted or Detained Individuals (last updated August 19, 2024)","publisher":"Clark County Election Department","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nvsos.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20519/639233354596030000","title":"2026 Statewide Ballot Questions (Ballot Question Guide)","publisher":"Nevada Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/nevada"},{"state":"New Hampshire","code":"NH","answer":"after_release","summary":"In New Hampshire, a person sentenced for a felony cannot vote while incarcerated; the right returns on release, and people on probation, parole or a suspended sentence can vote. The exception is a conviction for treason, bribery or a willful violation of state or federal election laws, which takes away the right to vote unless the New Hampshire Supreme Court restores it.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under RSA 607-A:2, a person sentenced for a felony may not vote from sentencing until 'final discharge,' which means release from incarceration; a person on probation or parole is considered finally discharged. If a sentence is suspended, with or without probation, or the person is paroled, the correctional facility must give written notice that the person may vote during the suspension or parole. For treason, bribery or a willful violation of election laws, the right is lost unless the New Hampshire Supreme Court restores it, on notice to the Attorney General (N.H. Const. pt. 1, art. 11; RSA 654:6). The official sources opened don't say whether a person must register again after release.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"For a felony, the right returns at release from incarceration (RSA 607-A:2(I)(b)); payment of fines, fees or restitution is not a condition.","lost_for_good_for":["Treason","Bribery","Any willful violation of New Hampshire or federal election laws, including election bribery or intimidation under RSA 659:40"],"exception":"People convicted of treason, bribery or a willful violation of New Hampshire or federal election laws lose the right to vote unless the New Hampshire Supreme Court restores it.","must_reregister":"not_stated","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.nh.gov/elections/information/election-laws/incarcerated-felons","title":"Incarcerated Felons (New Hampshire Secretary of State, election laws)"},"statute":[{"cite":"N.H. Const. pt. 1, art. 11","url":"https://www.nh.gov/glance/state-constitution/bill-rights"},{"cite":"RSA 607-A:1","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LIX/607-A/607-A-1.htm"},{"cite":"RSA 607-A:2","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LIX/607-A/607-A-2.htm"},{"cite":"RSA 607-A:3","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LIX/607-A/607-A-3.htm"},{"cite":"RSA 654:2-a","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXIII/654/654-2-a.htm"},{"cite":"RSA 654:6","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXIII/654/654-6.htm"},{"cite":"RSA 659:40","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXIII/659/659-40.htm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.nh.gov/elections/information/election-laws/incarcerated-felons","title":"Incarcerated Felons (RSA 607-A:1 to 607-A:3)","publisher":"New Hampshire Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LIX/607-A/607-A-2.htm","title":"RSA 607-A:2, Rights Lost","publisher":"New Hampshire General Court","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LIX/607-A/607-A-1.htm","title":"RSA 607-A:1, Definition","publisher":"New Hampshire General Court","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nh.gov/glance/state-constitution/bill-rights","title":"New Hampshire Constitution, Part First (Bill of Rights), Article 11","publisher":"State of New Hampshire (NH.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXIII/654/654-6.htm","title":"RSA 654:6, Disqualification for Bribery or Intimidation","publisher":"New Hampshire General Court","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXIII/659/659-40.htm","title":"RSA 659:40, Bribing; Intimidation; Suppression","publisher":"New Hampshire General Court","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXIII/654/654-2-a.htm","title":"RSA 654:2-a, Incarcerated Persons","publisher":"New Hampshire General Court","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LIX/607-A/607-A-3.htm","title":"RSA 607-A:3, Rights Retained by Convicted Person","publisher":"New Hampshire General Court","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/sos/docs/questions-on-general-election-ballot-2026-for-web.pdf","title":"Questions on the 2026 General Election Ballot","publisher":"New Hampshire Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/new-hampshire"},{"state":"New Jersey","code":"NJ","answer":"after_release","summary":"In New Jersey, people cannot vote while they are serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense (New Jersey law uses this term rather than 'felony' for more serious crimes). Since a 2019 law took effect, the right returns on release, including for people on parole or probation, but people must register again before voting.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Eligibility returns when a person is no longer serving a sentence of incarceration; no application is needed. R.S.19:31-17(c), as amended by P.L.2019, c.270, says a person convicted and sentenced to incarceration is denied the right to register while serving the sentence, and that such persons 'upon the restoration of their citizenship rights or upon being pardoned shall be required to register or reregister before being allowed to vote.'","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"R.S.19:4-1 bars only people who are serving a sentence of incarceration; it sets no payment condition, and the Division of Elections' registration page lists none.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2020-03-17","detail":"P.L.2019, c.270, approved December 18, 2019 and effective 90 days after enactment, limited the loss of voting rights to people serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense, so people on probation or parole may vote. It also limited court-imposed loss of the vote for election-law convictions to the period of incarceration.","source":{"url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/PL19/270_.HTM","title":"P.L.2019, c.270 (chapter law text)","publisher":"New Jersey Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml","title":"New Jersey Division of Elections: Voter Registration"},"statute":[{"cite":"N.J.S.A. 19:4-1 (R.S.19:4-1), as amended by P.L.2019, c.270","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/PL19/270_.HTM"},{"cite":"N.J.S.A. 19:31-17 (R.S.19:31-17), as amended by P.L.2019, c.270","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/PL19/270_.HTM"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/PL19/270_.HTM","title":"P.L.2019, c.270: amending R.S.19:4-1, R.S.19:31-17 and related election laws","publisher":"New Jersey Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml","title":"Voter Registration","publisher":"New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S4500/4240_I1.HTM","title":"Senate, No. 4240 (2026 session), as introduced","publisher":"New Jersey Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-2026.shtml","title":"2026 Election Information and Results","publisher":"New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/new-jersey"},{"state":"New Mexico","code":"NM","answer":"after_release","summary":"In New Mexico, people cannot register or vote while they are imprisoned as part of a sentence for a felony conviction. Under a law in effect since July 1, 2023, the right returns once they are no longer confined, including for people on probation or parole, and a felony conviction no longer cancels a voter's registration.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Eligibility returns when a person is no longer imprisoned for the felony; no application is needed. The Secretary of State says people can register and vote once they are 'no longer confined to a jail, prison, or other correctional facility', and that people finishing their incarceration will be given the chance to register (online, on paper, or at the Motor Vehicle Division). The 2023 law (HB 4) also requires that people about to be released be given an opportunity to register or update an existing registration. People who were never registered, or whose registration was canceled before July 1, 2023 or for another reason, need to register before voting.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"NMSA 1978, 1-4-27.1(A) as amended in 2023 makes a person ineligible only 'while imprisoned in a correctional facility as part of a sentence for a felony conviction'; it sets no payment condition, and the Secretary of State lists none.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"no","recent_change":{"date":"2023-07-01","detail":"HB 4 (Laws 2023, ch. 84, signed March 30, 2023) amended NMSA 1978, 1-4-27.1 so that a person is ineligible to register or vote only while imprisoned in a correctional facility as part of a felony sentence, and amended 1-4-24 to remove cancellation of registration on a felony conviction (its title: 'eliminating a requirement that a voter's registration be canceled upon felony conviction'). These sections took effect July 1, 2023.","source":{"url":"https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/23%20Regular/final/HB0004.pdf","title":"House Bill 4, 2023 Regular Session (final version)","publisher":"New Mexico Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://portal1.sos.nm.gov/OVR/webpages/Eligibility.aspx","title":"New Mexico Secretary of State: Voter Registration Eligibility"},"statute":[{"cite":"NMSA 1978, 1-4-27.1 (as amended by 2023 HB 4, sec. 6)","url":"https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/23%20Regular/final/HB0004.pdf"},{"cite":"NMSA 1978, 1-4-24 (as amended by 2023 HB 4, sec. 5)","url":"https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/23%20Regular/final/HB0004.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://portal1.sos.nm.gov/OVR/webpages/Eligibility.aspx","title":"Voter Registration Eligibility","publisher":"New Mexico Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/23%20Regular/final/HB0004.pdf","title":"House Bill 4 (Voting Rights Protection provisions), 2023 Regular Session, final version","publisher":"New Mexico Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=4&year=23","title":"2023 Regular Session, HB 4 (Voting Rights Protections): status","publisher":"New Mexico Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=JR&legNo=10&year=25","title":"House Joint Resolution 10 (2025): Allow Voting With Felony Conviction, CA","publisher":"New Mexico Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.nm.gov/legislation-and-lobbying/signed-chaptered-bills/2026-legislation/","title":"2026 Legislation: Signed and Chaptered Bills and 2026 Constitutional Amendments","publisher":"New Mexico Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.nm.gov/sos-archive/legislation-archive/2025-legislation-archive/","title":"2025 Legislation: Signed and Chaptered Bills and 2025 Constitutional Amendments","publisher":"New Mexico Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/new-mexico"},{"state":"New York","code":"NY","answer":"after_release","summary":"In New York, people convicted of a felony cannot register or vote while they are in prison for it. Under a 2021 law the right returns on release, including for people on parole, probation or post-release supervision, but people must register again. A misdemeanor conviction, or being held in jail before trial, does not take away the right to register.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Eligibility returns on release from incarceration; no application is needed. The State Board of Elections says a person 'must re-register to vote in order for their voting ability to be fully restored', and that people are given a voter registration form when they are released. New York Election Law 5-106(2) bars registering or voting only 'while he or she is incarcerated for such felony'.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Election Law 5-106 bars voting only while a person is incarcerated for a felony, and the State Board of Elections lists no payment condition; eligibility returns on release.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2021-05-04","detail":"S830B was signed into law as Chapter 103 of the Laws of 2021 on May 4, 2021. Its sections 1 to 3, which amended Election Law 5-106(2), (3) and (4) to bar voting only while a person is incarcerated for a felony, took effect immediately. The State Board of Elections describes it as the law that 'restores the right to vote for a person convicted of a felony upon release from incarceration', regardless of parole or post-release supervision.","source":{"url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S830","title":"Senate Bill S830 (2021-2022): status and actions","publisher":"New York State Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://elections.ny.gov/voting-after-incarceration","title":"New York State Board of Elections: Voting After Incarceration"},"statute":[{"cite":"N.Y. Election Law 5-106","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ELN/5-106"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://elections.ny.gov/voting-after-incarceration","title":"Voting After Incarceration","publisher":"New York State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ELN/5-106","title":"New York Election Law Section 5-106","publisher":"New York State Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S830","title":"Senate Bill S830 (2021-2022)","publisher":"New York State Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S440","title":"Senate Bill S440 (2025-2026)","publisher":"New York State Senate","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2026/10/accessible-2026-general-ballot-certification-10.7.2026.pdf","title":"Amended Certification for the November 3, 2026 General Election (October 7, 2026)","publisher":"New York State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/new-york"},{"state":"North Carolina","code":"NC","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In North Carolina, people convicted of a felony lose the right to vote until they complete their sentence, including any prison or jail time and any probation, post-release supervision or parole. The right then comes back automatically, but people must register to vote again, even if they were registered before. A misdemeanor conviction does not take away the right to vote, even during incarceration.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The State Board of Elections says a person convicted of a felony 'automatically regains the right to vote' once their period of supervision is over, and that they must still register to vote, even if they were registered before the conviction. N.C. Gen. Stat. 13-1 restores citizenship rights automatically on the unconditional discharge of an inmate, probationer or parolee (or of a defendant under a suspended sentence), on an unconditional pardon, or on meeting all conditions of a conditional pardon. The State Board says people whose rights are restored after the regular registration deadline may register during early voting or on Election Day.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Payment is not a separate condition, but unpaid money owed on a sentence can delay restoration for some people by keeping them on probation longer. The State Board of Elections says 'Having financial debt associated with a felony sentence' does not necessarily prevent registering or voting, that someone 'can have their probation period extended due to failure to pay such financial debt,' and that 'probation can and does end for many people with remaining debts'; once supervision ends, the right returns even if debt remains.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2023-04-28","detail":"In Community Success Initiative v. Moore, 384 N.C. 194 (2023), the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed a March 28, 2022 trial court judgment that had held N.C. Gen. Stat. 13-1 unconstitutional and had allowed all people with felony convictions not in jail or prison to register and vote, and remanded for dismissal of the claims. The court held that requiring people with felony convictions to complete their sentences, including probation, parole or post-release supervision, before they regain the right to vote does not violate the state constitution.","source":{"url":"https://appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=1&pdf=42282","title":"Cmty. Success Initiative v. Moore, No. 331PA21 (N.C. Apr. 28, 2023), slip opinion","publisher":"Supreme Court of North Carolina","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/who-can-register/registering-person-criminal-justice-system","title":"NC State Board of Elections: Registering as a Person in the Criminal Justice System"},"statute":[{"cite":"N.C. Const. art. VI, sec. 2(3)","url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Constitution/NCConstitution.html"},{"cite":"N.C. Gen. Stat. 13-1","url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_13/GS_13-1.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/who-can-register/registering-person-criminal-justice-system","title":"Registering as a Person in the Criminal Justice System","publisher":"North Carolina State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_13/GS_13-1.html","title":"N.C. Gen. Stat. 13-1: Restoration of citizenship","publisher":"North Carolina General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Constitution/NCConstitution.html","title":"North Carolina Constitution, Article VI, Section 2(3) (Disqualification of felon)","publisher":"North Carolina General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=1&pdf=42282","title":"Cmty. Success Initiative v. Moore, No. 331PA21, filed 28 April 2023 (slip opinion)","publisher":"Supreme Court of North Carolina","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://appellate.nccourts.org/opinion-filings/digested-index.php?iCourtNumber=1&sFilingYear=2023","title":"Supreme Court of North Carolina, Headnote Index for 2023 (Cmty. Success Initiative v. Moore, 384 N.C. 194)","publisher":"North Carolina Judicial Branch, Appellate Courts","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/statewide_referendums_20261103.pdf","title":"Referendum Choices List, November 3, 2026 (linked from 'Statewide referenda' on the Upcoming Election page)","publisher":"North Carolina State Board of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/north-carolina"},{"state":"North Dakota","code":"ND","answer":"after_release","summary":"In North Dakota, a criminal record does not affect the right to vote unless the person is currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. People on probation or parole, and people convicted of a felony who are not incarcerated, may vote. North Dakota does not have voter registration, but voters must show an accepted form of ID.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The right is lost only 'during the term of actual incarceration' under a felony sentence (N.D. Cent. Code 12.1-33-01) and is available again on release, with no application. North Dakota does not require voter registration, so there is nothing to re-register; the Secretary of State says voters need an accepted ID showing their name, current residential address and date of birth.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"N.D. Cent. Code 12.1-33-01 and 12.1-33-03 limit the loss of the right to the period of actual incarceration and set no payment condition; the Secretary of State's flyer says a criminal record does not affect voting unless the person is currently incarcerated for a felony.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"no","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/elections/voting-flyers/criminal-record-flyer.pdf","title":"North Dakota Secretary of State: Voting With a Criminal Record (flyer)"},"statute":[{"cite":"N.D. Const. art. II, sec. 2","url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/constit/a02.pdf"},{"cite":"N.D. Cent. Code 12.1-33-01","url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t12-1c33.pdf"},{"cite":"N.D. Cent. Code 12.1-33-03","url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t12-1c33.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sos.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/elections/voting-flyers/criminal-record-flyer.pdf","title":"Voting With a Criminal Record (voter flyer)","publisher":"North Dakota Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t12-1c33.pdf","title":"North Dakota Century Code Chapter 12.1-33 (sections 12.1-33-01 and 12.1-33-03)","publisher":"North Dakota Legislative Branch","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/constit/a02.pdf","title":"Constitution of North Dakota, Article II (Elective Franchise)","publisher":"North Dakota Legislative Branch","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/ballot-measures/measures-ballot","title":"Measures on Ballot: 2026 General Election","publisher":"North Dakota Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/north-dakota"},{"state":"Ohio","code":"OH","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Ohio, people convicted of a felony cannot register or vote while they are incarcerated for it. The right returns on release, including for people on probation, parole, community control or post-release control, and anyone whose registration was canceled must register again. One narrow exception: people with two convictions for violating Ohio election law are permanently barred from voting.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Eligibility returns on release from incarceration, with no application: Ohio Rev. Code 2961.01(A)(2) makes a person competent to be an elector while on parole, judicial release, a non-jail community control sanction or post-release control, and after final discharge, and says a full pardon restores the rights forfeited under that section. The Secretary of State says a person whose registration was canceled due to incarceration must re-register by the registration deadline before voting again. The exception is people disfranchised under Ohio Rev. Code 3599.39 (a second conviction for violating Ohio election law), whom the Secretary of State describes as permanently barred from voting in Ohio; the official pages opened do not describe a way to restore that right.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Ohio Rev. Code 2961.01 ties eligibility to release status (parole, community control, post-release control, final discharge), not to payment, and the Secretary of State's FAQ lists no payment condition for people on probation, parole or community control or who have completed their sentence.","lost_for_good_for":["A second conviction for violating Ohio election law (Ohio Rev. Code Title XXXV)"],"exception":"People convicted a second time of violating Ohio election law are disfranchised under Ohio Rev. Code 3599.39, and the Secretary of State says they are permanently barred from voting in Ohio, even after release.","must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions/","title":"Ohio Secretary of State: Frequently Asked Questions (Voter Eligibility, Voting After a Criminal Conviction)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Ohio Rev. Code 2961.01","url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2961.01"},{"cite":"Ohio Rev. Code 3599.39","url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3599.39"},{"cite":"Ohio Rev. Code 3503.21(A)(4)","url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3503.21"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions/","title":"Frequently Asked Questions: Voter Eligibility and Residency Requirements; Voting After a Criminal Conviction","publisher":"Ohio Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2961.01","title":"Ohio Revised Code Section 2961.01: Forfeiture of rights and privileges by convicted felons","publisher":"Ohio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3599.39","title":"Ohio Revised Code Section 3599.39: Second conviction under election laws","publisher":"Ohio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3503.21","title":"Ohio Revised Code Section 3503.21: Cancellation of registration","publisher":"Ohio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/office/media-center/categories/press-releases/2026-08-18","title":"Secretary LaRose Encourages Ohioans to Become Informed Voters About Issue 3 (August 18, 2026)","publisher":"Ohio Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/office/duties-and-responsibilities/ohio-ballot-board/currently-circulating-petitions","title":"Ohio Ballot Board: Currently Circulating Petitions and Statewide Ballot Issues","publisher":"Ohio Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/ohio"},{"state":"Oklahoma","code":"OK","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In Oklahoma, people convicted of a felony can register to vote again once they have fully served their sentence or had it discharged, including any prison term, parole, supervision or probation, or once they receive a qualifying commutation or a pardon. A felony conviction cancels a voter's registration, so people must register again. A rewritten rule takes effect November 1, 2026, two days before the election and after the October 9, 2026 registration deadline for it.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"No application is needed, but the person must register again. Under 26 O.S. 4-101 as in force until November 1, 2026, a person convicted of a felony may register when they have (a) 'fully served their sentence of court-mandated calendar days or had their sentence discharged, including any term of incarceration, parole or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court'; (b) received a commutation to time served and have no other outstanding felony sentence; (c) received a commutation under 57 O.S. 332.2(F) for a crime reclassified from a felony to a misdemeanor and have no remaining time to serve; or (d) been granted a pardon and have no other outstanding felony sentence. The State Election Board's registration page states the same conditions. Under 26 O.S. 4-120.4 the registrations of people convicted of a felony are canceled, and under 26 O.S. 4-120.8 a person whose registration was canceled must register again before voting.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"26 O.S. 4-101 and the State Election Board's page describe the conditions in terms of serving or discharging the sentence, commutation or pardon; neither mentions fines, fees or restitution, and no official source opened says whether unpaid amounts can delay a sentence's discharge.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2025-01-01","detail":"Laws 2024, HB 1629, c. 289, effective January 1, 2025, amended 26 O.S. 4-101. The earlier text (Laws 2019, HB 2253, effective November 1, 2019) let a person register once they had 'fully served their sentence of court-mandated calendar days, including any term of incarceration, parole or supervision, or completed a period of probation'; HB 1629 added 'or had their sentence discharged' and new paths for a commutation to time served, a commutation for a crime reclassified as a misdemeanor, and a pardon. Before November 1, 2019 the statute barred registration 'for a period of time equal to the time prescribed in the judgment and sentence'.","source":{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=552376","title":"26 O.S. 4-101, Persons Entitled to Become Registered Voters (version in force until November 1, 2026, with historical data)","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":{"date":"2026-11-01","detail":"Laws 2026, HB 4113, c. 331 rewrites 26 O.S. 4-101 effective November 1, 2026, two days before the November 3, 2026 election. The new text drops 'fully served their sentence of court-mandated calendar days or had their sentence discharged': a person convicted of a felony may register once they have completed any term of incarceration, parole or supervision, or any period of probation, for that felony, are not currently on parole, supervision or probation for it, and are not currently incarcerated or under supervision for any other felony. It replaces the separate commutation and pardon rules with one: a person with a commutation or pardon for the felony may vote if not currently incarcerated, on parole, on supervision or on probation for another felony. The change cannot help anyone register for this election: the State Election Board's registration deadline for November 3, 2026 was October 9, 2026, and applications received after the deadline are processed after the election, so registration for November 3 was governed by the text in force before November 1.","source":{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78446","title":"26 O.S. 4-101, Persons Entitled to Become Registered Voters (version effective November 1, 2026)","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/register-to-vote.html","title":"Oklahoma State Election Board: Register to Vote"},"statute":[{"cite":"26 O.S. 4-101 (current version)","url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=552376"},{"cite":"26 O.S. 4-101 (as amended by Laws 2026, HB 4113, eff. Nov. 1, 2026)","url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78446"},{"cite":"26 O.S. 4-120.4","url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78477"},{"cite":"26 O.S. 4-120.8","url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78481"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/register-to-vote.html","title":"Register to Vote","publisher":"Oklahoma State Election Board","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=552376","title":"26 O.S. 4-101, Persons Entitled to Become Registered Voters (version in force until November 1, 2026)","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78446","title":"26 O.S. 4-101, Persons Entitled to Become Registered Voters (version effective November 1, 2026)","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=496664","title":"26 O.S. 4-101 (superseded version, Laws 2019, HB 2253, eff. November 1, 2019)","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=485046","title":"26 O.S. 4-101 (superseded version, Laws 2002, SB 1350, eff. July 1, 2003)","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78477","title":"26 O.S. 4-120.4, Convicted Felons - Cancellation of Registration","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=78481","title":"26 O.S. 4-120.8, Reregistration of Cancelled Voter","publisher":"Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://oklahoma.gov/elections/elections-results/next-election/voter-information-calendar.html","title":"2026 Voter Information Calendar","publisher":"Oklahoma State Election Board","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://oklahoma.gov/elections/elections-results/state-question-info.html","title":"State Questions","publisher":"Oklahoma State Election Board","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.ok.gov/gov/questions.aspx","title":"State Questions list","publisher":"Oklahoma Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.okep.uscourts.gov/node/63","title":"Voting Rights (general information, undated)","publisher":"U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/oklahoma"},{"state":"Oregon","code":"OR","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Oregon, people sentenced to incarceration for a felony cannot vote from the date of sentencing until they are released, whether they serve the time in a state prison or a county jail. The right is restored automatically on release, including for people on parole, post-prison supervision or probation, but people must register again or update their registration. The right is withdrawn again if a person is re-incarcerated, for example for a parole violation.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"ORS 137.281(7) says the rights withdrawn 'are restored automatically upon release from incarceration', but are withdrawn again on a later imprisonment for a parole violation, and 137.281(2) applies the bar to any incarceration imposed as a sanction or revocation for violating probation, parole or post-prison supervision. The Secretary of State says that once released a person 'is immediately eligible to vote again, but they must re-register (or update their registration)', and that a registration becomes inactive when a person is incarcerated. Multnomah County Elections adds that people in a work release program or required to live in a halfway house cannot vote.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"ORS 137.281 ties the loss of the right to the period of incarceration and restores it automatically on release; it sets no payment condition. The county elections page opened does not address fines.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/faq.aspx","title":"Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division: Frequently Asked Questions ('Can formerly incarcerated people vote?')"},"statute":[{"cite":"ORS 137.281","url":"https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors137.html"},{"cite":"ORS 137.275","url":"https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors137.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors137.html","title":"ORS Chapter 137 (2025 Edition), sections 137.275 and 137.281","publisher":"Oregon State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/faq.aspx","title":"Elections Division: Frequently Asked Questions","publisher":"Oregon Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/voteinor.aspx","title":"Voting in Oregon (Voter Status FAQ)","publisher":"Oregon Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://multco.us/info/voting-rights-information","title":"Voting Rights Information (last reviewed April 13, 2026)","publisher":"Multnomah County Elections Division","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2026OrLawAR.pdf","title":"2026 Regular Session: ORS sections amended or repealed (A&R Tables)","publisher":"Oregon State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/current-election.aspx","title":"Upcoming Elections: General Election, November 3, 2026","publisher":"Oregon Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://apps.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/SB579","title":"SB 579 (2023 Regular Session): Relating to voting by adults in custody","publisher":"Oregon State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/oregon"},{"state":"Pennsylvania","code":"PA","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Pennsylvania, people confined in a correctional facility for a felony conviction cannot vote if they will still be confined on the date of the next election. People who have been released, or will be released by Election Day, may register and vote, including people on probation or parole. One narrow exception: anyone convicted of willfully violating the Pennsylvania Election Code loses the right to vote for four years from the date of conviction.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Eligibility returns on release from confinement for the felony, with no application; the Department of State says people who 'were released or will be released from a correctional facility by the date of the next election' may register and vote. The exception is a conviction for a willful violation of the Election Code: Election Code section 1852 deprives the person of the right of suffrage 'absolutely for a term of four years from the date of his conviction' and has the registration card canceled in court at sentencing, so the person must register again once the four years have passed. Pennsylvania's election law (25 Pa.C.S. 1301) still contains older wording that bars registration for five years after release from prison, but the Commonwealth Court found that rule 'constitutionally infirm' in Mixon v. Commonwealth (2000), and the Department of State tells people released from prison that they may register.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Department of State's eligibility list turns on confinement status and the four-year Election Code rule; it does not mention fines, fees or restitution as a condition.","lost_for_good_for":["A willful violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code (loss of the right to vote for four years from the date of conviction, not permanently)"],"exception":"People convicted of willfully violating the Pennsylvania Election Code, including misdemeanor violations, cannot vote for four years from the date of conviction, even if they are not incarcerated, and must register again afterward.","must_reregister":"not_stated","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/voter-support/your-rights-and-the-law/criminal-status-and-voting","title":"Pennsylvania Department of State: Information for Justice-Involved Individuals"},"statute":[{"cite":"Pennsylvania Election Code sec. 1852 (1937 Act 320)","url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?SESSYR=1937&SESSIND=0&ACTNUM=320&SMTHLWIND=&CHPT=18&SCTN=52&SUBSCTN="},{"cite":"25 Pa.C.S. 1301 (see research_notes: its five-year language conflicts with the Department of State's current rule)","url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=25&div=0&chapter=13&section=1&subsctn=0"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/voter-support/your-rights-and-the-law/criminal-status-and-voting","title":"Information for Justice-Involved Individuals","publisher":"Pennsylvania Department of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/vote/your-rights-and-the-law/Convicted-felon-brochure-English.pdf","title":"Voting Rights of Convicted Felons, Convicted Misdemeanants and Pretrial Detainees (brochure)","publisher":"Pennsylvania Department of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?SESSYR=1937&SESSIND=0&ACTNUM=320&SMTHLWIND=&CHPT=18&SCTN=52&SUBSCTN=","title":"1937 Act 320 (Pennsylvania Election Code), Section 1852: Persons Convicted of Violating Act to Be Disfranchised for Four Years","publisher":"Pennsylvania General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=25&div=0&chapter=13&section=1&subsctn=0","title":"25 Pa.C.S. Chapter 13, Section 1301: Qualifications to register","publisher":"Pennsylvania General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Commonwealth/out/384MD99.pdf","title":"Mixon v. Commonwealth, No. 384 M.D. 1999 (Pa. Cmwlth. Sept. 18, 2000) (en banc)","publisher":"Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/elections/upcoming-elections","title":"Upcoming Elections","publisher":"Pennsylvania Department of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/pennsylvania"},{"state":"Rhode Island","code":"RI","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Rhode Island, people incarcerated in a correctional facility on a felony conviction cannot vote until they are discharged from the facility. The state constitution restores the right on discharge, and state law confirms that people on probation or parole, or never incarcerated, may vote. People who were registered when they entered the facility have their registration restored, while people who were not registered, or who have a new address, need to file a registration form or notify their local board.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"R.I. Const. art. II, sec. 1 says a person incarcerated upon a felony conviction may not vote 'until such person is discharged from the facility. Upon discharge, such person's right to vote shall be restored.' The Secretary of State says that once out of the facility the right to vote is automatically restored, and the voter registration of a person who was registered in Rhode Island when they entered is restored on release. A person who was not registered can vote by notifying the local board of canvassers in writing or by submitting a new registration form, and a person with a new address needs to complete a new registration form. R.I. Gen. Laws 17-9.2-3(c) requires the Department of Corrections to offer a registration form on release.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The constitution restores the right on discharge from incarceration, and R.I. Gen. Laws 17-9.2-3 restores it to everyone discharged from incarceration or never incarcerated after a felony conviction; neither sets a payment condition.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"no","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/RegisterToVote","title":"Rhode Island Department of State: Register to Vote"},"statute":[{"cite":"R.I. Const. art. II, sec. 1","url":"https://rilegislature.gov/riconstitution/Constitution/C02.aspx"},{"cite":"R.I. Gen. Laws 17-9.2-3","url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE17/17-9.2/17-9.2-3.htm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/RegisterToVote","title":"Register to Vote","publisher":"Rhode Island Department of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://rilegislature.gov/riconstitution/Constitution/C02.aspx","title":"Rhode Island Constitution, Article II, Section 1","publisher":"State of Rhode Island General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE17/17-9.2/17-9.2-3.htm","title":"R.I. Gen. Laws 17-9.2-3: Restoration of voting rights","publisher":"State of Rhode Island General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/rhode-island"},{"state":"South Carolina","code":"SC","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In South Carolina, a felony conviction, or a conviction for an offense against the election laws, takes away the right to register and vote until the whole sentence has been served, including probation and parole, unless the person is pardoned sooner. Anyone serving a prison or jail term for any crime also can't vote while confined. Once the sentence is complete, the person has to submit a new voter registration application.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The disqualification ends when the sentence has been served, \"including probation and parole time\", or sooner with a pardon (S.C. Code § 7-5-120(B)(3)). The State Election Commission says that after serving the sentence, the person must submit a new voter registration application to the county voter registration office, before the 30-day registration deadline for the election they want to vote in. The applicant swears under penalty of perjury that the entire sentence is complete, and the county board may ask for proof that it was completed.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"S.C. Code § 7-5-120(B)(3) and the State Election Commission tie eligibility to service of the sentence, which the Commission says \"includes completion of any prison/jail time, probation and parole.\" Neither mentions fines, fees or restitution or says whether unpaid amounts keep a sentence from being complete.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/","title":"Register to Vote (South Carolina Election Commission), including the \"Convicted Felons\" section"},"statute":[{"cite":"S.C. Code § 7-5-120(B)","url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c005.php"},{"cite":"S.C. Const. art. II, § 7","url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/scconstitution/A02.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c005.php","title":"Code of Laws, Title 7, Chapter 5, Section 7-5-120 (Qualifications for registration; persons disqualified from registering or voting)","publisher":"South Carolina General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/","title":"Register to Vote","publisher":"South Carolina Election Commission","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://scvotes.gov/voters/voter-faq/","title":"General FAQs (Who can vote absentee?)","publisher":"South Carolina Election Commission","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/scconstitution/A02.pdf","title":"Constitution of South Carolina, Article II (Right of Suffrage), Section 7 (Disqualifications by reason of mental incompetence or conviction of crime)","publisher":"South Carolina General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2025-2026-Passed-Legislation.pdf","title":"2025-2026 Election-Related Legislation Passed by General Assembly","publisher":"South Carolina Election Commission","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/south-carolina"},{"state":"South Dakota","code":"SD","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In South Dakota, people serving a sentence for a felony conviction from a state or federal court, including time on parole or on probation after the court imposes a sentence and suspends its execution, are removed from the voter rolls and can't register. They become eligible to register again once the sentence is complete. A person who receives a suspended imposition of sentence, where the court does not enter a judgment of conviction, does not lose the right to vote.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The Secretary of State says a person \"becomes eligible to register to vote upon completion of his or her sentence.\" No application is needed, but because the person was removed from the voter registration records (SDCL 12-4-18), they have to register again, and the registration form requires a sworn statement that the applicant \"is not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction\" (SDCL 12-4-1.2). The Attorney General's Official Opinion 05-01 (2005, written under earlier wording of SDCL 12-4-18) says it is discharge from the sentence, not release from prison, that controls, that a suspended execution of sentence is a felony conviction that costs the right to vote until the original sentence ends, and that a suspended imposition of sentence is not a conviction.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"The statutes and the Secretary of State's page tie eligibility to completing the sentence. Neither says whether unpaid fines, costs or restitution keep a sentence from being complete.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/felony-convictions.aspx","title":"Felony Convictions (South Dakota Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"SDCL 12-4-18","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/12-4-18"},{"cite":"SDCL 12-4-1.2(5)","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/12-4"},{"cite":"SDCL 23A-27-35","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-27-35"},{"cite":"SDCL 23A-27-13 (suspended imposition of sentence)","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-27-13"},{"cite":"SDCL 23A-27-18 (suspended execution of sentence)","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-27-18"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/felony-convictions.aspx","title":"Felony Convictions","publisher":"South Dakota Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/12-4-18","title":"Codified Law 12-4-18 (persons serving sentence for felony conviction removed from registration records)","publisher":"South Dakota Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/12-4","title":"Codified Law Chapter 12-4 (Registration of Voters), including 12-4-1.2 (voter registration form certification)","publisher":"South Dakota Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-27-35","title":"Codified Law 23A-27-35 (voting rights of persons sentenced to imprisonment governed by Title 12)","publisher":"South Dakota Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-27-13","title":"Codified Law 23A-27-13 (Suspended imposition of felony sentence: probation without entering a judgment of guilt)","publisher":"South Dakota Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-27-18","title":"Codified Law 23A-27-18 (Suspension of execution of sentence)","publisher":"South Dakota Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/OfficialOpinions/opinionhtml.aspx?id=1223","title":"Official Opinion No. 05-01, Voting Eligibility of a Convicted Felon (February 7, 2005)","publisher":"South Dakota Attorney General","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/Bill/20212.html?Year=2012","title":"2012 House Bill 1247 (voting rights of persons convicted of a felony or serving time in the state penitentiary), introduced text with changes marked","publisher":"South Dakota Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/general-information/2026 Election Information/2026-ballot-questions.aspx","title":"2026 Ballot Questions (Potential 2026 Ballot Questions and 2026 General Election Ballot Measures)","publisher":"South Dakota Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/south-dakota"},{"state":"Tennessee","code":"TN","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Tennessee, people convicted of a felony on or after May 18, 1981 can't register or vote until a court orders their voting rights restored. To get that order, the person must have finished the sentence or been pardoned, owe no restitution, and have complied with child support orders for the past 12 months. People convicted of certain crimes, such as murder, rape, treason and voter fraud during set time periods, can never have their voting rights restored.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"application","restoration_detail":"For a felony conviction on or after May 18, 1981, the person must petition a circuit court (in the county where they live or where the conviction happened) for restoration of citizenship rights. They are eligible to petition after a pardon, after discharge from custody by serving the sentence or its expiration, or after a certificate of final discharge from parole supervision (or an equivalent discharge from another state, the federal government or a county). The court can restore the right to vote even if it does not restore firearm rights. The Administrative Office of the Courts publishes the petition form. The person then gives a certified copy of the court order to the county Administrator of Elections, who verifies it with the state Coordinator of Elections and issues a voter registration card; court orders issued before May 2, 2025 also need a sworn statement on the state's form. For a conviction on or before May 17, 1981, the Secretary of State says the person only answers the question on the voter registration form.","fines_and_fees":"some","fines_and_fees_detail":"All restitution ordered as part of the sentence must be paid before voting rights can be restored (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-29-102(c)). A separate requirement to pay court costs was repealed by 2026 Public Chapter 605, signed March 26, 2026. The person must also have complied with all child support orders, including arrearage orders, for the previous 12 months. The petitioner pays the costs of the court proceeding, which the court may waive for a person who is indigent.","lost_for_good_for":["Convicted between July 1, 1986 and June 30, 1996: first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud","Convicted between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 2006: murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud","Convicted on or after July 1, 2006: murder, rape, treason, voter fraud, certain felonies involving bribery, misconduct involving public officials and employees, or interference with government operations, and felony sexual or violent sexual offenses where the victim was a minor"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2026-03-26","detail":"2026 Public Chapter 605 (SB 336) replaced the requirements to have paid court costs and to be current on all child support with a requirement to have complied with all child support orders for the previous 12 months. It followed 2025 Public Chapter 298 (effective May 2, 2025), which repealed the Certificate of Restoration process and made a circuit court order the way to restore voting rights.","source":{"url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0605.pdf","title":"Public Chapter No. 605 (Senate Bill No. 336), 2026","publisher":"Tennessee Secretary of State (Public Acts)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.tn.gov/elections/guides/restoration-of-voting-rights","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights (Tennessee Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-19-143 (as amended by 2025 Pub. Ch. 298)","url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0298.pdf"},{"cite":"Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-29-101 to -104 (as amended by 2025 Pub. Ch. 298 and 2026 Pub. Ch. 605)","url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0298.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://sos.tn.gov/elections/guides/restoration-of-voting-rights","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights","publisher":"Tennessee Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/Eligibility%20to%20Vote%20after%20Felony%20Conviction%20%28Rev%204-26%29.pdf","title":"Eligibility to Vote after a Felony Conviction (Rev 4-26)","publisher":"Tennessee Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0298.pdf","title":"Public Chapter No. 298 (Senate Bill No. 407), 2025, relative to rights of citizenship","publisher":"Tennessee Secretary of State (Public Acts)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0407&GA=114","title":"Bill Information: SB 0407 (Pub. Ch. 298), 114th General Assembly","publisher":"Tennessee General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0605.pdf","title":"Public Chapter No. 605 (Senate Bill No. 336), 2026","publisher":"Tennessee Secretary of State (Public Acts)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0336&GA=114","title":"Bill Information: SB 0336 (Pub. Ch. 605), 114th General Assembly","publisher":"Tennessee General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.tn.gov/elections/announcements/2026-proposed-constitutional-amendments","title":"Proposed Constitutional Amendments (November 2026 ballot)","publisher":"Tennessee Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-30","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/tennessee"},{"state":"Texas","code":"TX","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In Texas, a person finally convicted of a felony can't vote until they have fully discharged the sentence, including any prison time, parole or supervision, or completed a period of probation, or until they are pardoned. Deferred adjudication is not a final conviction for this rule. A felony conviction cancels a voter registration, so the person has to register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under Tex. Elec. Code § 11.002(a)(4), a person finally convicted of a felony becomes a qualified voter again once they have \"fully discharged the person's sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court\", or have been \"pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote.\" No application is needed. The county voter registrar cancels a registration when it receives an abstract of a felony conviction (§ 16.031(a)(3)), so the person must submit a new voter registration application.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"The Election Code (§ 11.002(a)(4)) and the Secretary of State's pages tie eligibility to fully discharging the sentence or completing probation and say nothing about payments. The probation statute has the judge discharge a person \"on the satisfactory fulfillment of the conditions of community supervision and the expiration of the period\" (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.701(e)), but no official source opened says whether unpaid fines, fees or restitution by themselves keep a sentence from being discharged for voting purposes.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.votetexas.gov/faq/index.html","title":"Frequently Asked Questions, \"Convicted Felons and Voting\" (VoteTexas.gov, Texas Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Tex. Elec. Code § 11.002(a)(4), (b)","url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.11.htm"},{"cite":"Tex. Elec. Code § 16.031(a)(3)","url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.16.htm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.11.htm","title":"Election Code, Chapter 11, Sec. 11.002 (Qualified Voter)","publisher":"Texas Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.16.htm","title":"Election Code, Chapter 16, Sec. 16.031 (Cancellation on official notice of ineligibility)","publisher":"Texas Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml","title":"Request for Voter Registration Applications","publisher":"Texas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/eligibility-for-registration.html","title":"Eligibility for Registration","publisher":"Texas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.votetexas.gov/faq/index.html","title":"Frequently Asked Questions (Convicted Felons and Voting; ballot by mail)","publisher":"Texas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.42A.htm","title":"Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 42A, Art. 42A.701 (Reduction or termination of community supervision period; discharge)","publisher":"Texas Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/2026-november-general-election.shtml","title":"November 3, 2026 General Election (election information page)","publisher":"Texas Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/texas"},{"state":"Utah","code":"UT","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Utah, people convicted of a felony in any state or federal court can't vote while serving a prison or jail sentence for it. The right to register and vote comes back when the person is sentenced to probation, is granted parole, or completes the term of incarceration. Registration is removed after a conviction, so the person has to register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"Under Utah Code § 20A-2-101.5(2), a person's \"right to register to vote and to vote in an election is restored when\" the person is sentenced to probation, is granted parole, or has successfully completed the term of incarceration. No application is needed. Because a person convicted of a felony \"may not register to vote or remain registered to vote\" until the right is restored (§ 20A-2-101(2)(b)), and county clerks must remove a voter on notice of a felony conviction when the right has not been restored (§ 20A-2-504(2)(e)), the person must register again; a restored person \"is eligible to register to vote\" (§ 20A-2-101(2)(c)).","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"The voting provision lists only probation, parole or completed incarceration. Payment of court-ordered restitution and fines appears only in the separate rule for regaining the right to hold elective office (§ 20A-2-101.5(3)).","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://vote.utah.gov/learn-about-registering-to-vote/","title":"Learn About Registering to Vote, \"I have a felony. Can I register to vote?\" (Utah Lieutenant Governor, vote.utah.gov)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Utah Code § 20A-2-101.5","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S101.5.html"},{"cite":"Utah Code § 20A-2-101(2)","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S101.html"},{"cite":"Utah Code § 20A-2-101.3","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S101.3.html"},{"cite":"Utah Code § 20A-2-504(2)(e)","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S504.html"},{"cite":"Utah Const. art. IV, § 6","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/ArticleIV/Article_IV,_Section_6.html"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S101.5.html","title":"Utah Code Section 20A-2-101.5 (Convicted felons -- Restoration of right to vote and right to hold office)","publisher":"Utah State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S101.html","title":"Utah Code Section 20A-2-101 (Eligibility for registration), effective 5/7/2025","publisher":"Utah State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S101.3.html","title":"Utah Code Section 20A-2-101.3 (Convicted misdemeanants -- Restoration of right to vote or hold office)","publisher":"Utah State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S504.html","title":"Utah Code Section 20A-2-504 (Removing names from the official register), effective 5/6/2026","publisher":"Utah State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://vote.utah.gov/learn-about-registering-to-vote/","title":"Learn About Registering to Vote","publisher":"Utah Lieutenant Governor, Elections Office (vote.utah.gov)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/ArticleIV/Article_IV,_Section_6.html","title":"Utah Constitution Article IV, Section 6 (Mentally incompetent persons, convicted felons, and certain criminals ineligible to vote)","publisher":"Utah State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://vote.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-Voter-Information-Pamphlet.pdf","title":"2026 General Election Voter Information Pamphlet","publisher":"Utah Lieutenant Governor, Elections Office","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/utah"},{"state":"Vermont","code":"VT","answer":"never_lost","summary":"In Vermont, a criminal conviction does not take away the right to vote. People who are incarcerated keep the right and vote by early voter absentee ballot, using their last voluntary residence rather than the prison as their voting address.","in_prison":"can_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"never_lost","restoration_detail":"No restoration is needed. Under 28 V.S.A. § 807(a), a person convicted of a crime \"shall retain the right to vote\" if they otherwise meet the voting requirements, and votes by early voter absentee ballot during commitment from their last voluntary residence. The Department of Corrections directive on inmate voting says facilities must provide basic information and assistance to incarcerated people who are qualified to vote.","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"Because a conviction does not take away the right to vote in Vermont, there is nothing to pay to get it back.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"no","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/voters/registration/","title":"Voter Registration (Vermont Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"28 V.S.A. § 807","url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/28/011/00807"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/28/011/00807","title":"28 V.S.A. § 807 (Voting rights)","publisher":"Vermont General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DOC/Policies/Inmate%20Voting%20Directive.pdf","title":"Inmate Voting (Directive #324.01), effective June 1, 2017","publisher":"Vermont Department of Corrections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/voters/registration/","title":"Voter Registration","publisher":"Vermont Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/17/043/02121","title":"17 V.S.A. § 2121 (Eligibility of voters)","publisher":"Vermont General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/constitution-of-the-state-of-vermont","title":"Constitution of the State of Vermont (including Chapter II, § 55)","publisher":"Vermont General Assembly","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/governor-phil-scott-formally-proclaims-constitutional-amendment-proposals-3-and-4","title":"Governor Phil Scott Formally Proclaims Constitutional Amendment Proposals 3 and 4 Will Appear on November Ballot (July 28, 2026)","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Vermont","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/vermont"},{"state":"Virginia","code":"VA","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"Under a federal court order in King v. O'Bannon, the Virginia Department of Elections says only convictions for murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter (Va. Code §§ 18.2-32, 18.2-35 and 18.2-36) now take away the right to vote. People with any other felony conviction can't register or vote while physically incarcerated, but may register once released, including while on probation or parole, without applying to the Governor; people convicted of those three offenses need the Governor to restore their rights. Question 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot would, if approved, restore the right to everyone with a felony conviction on release from incarceration, starting January 1, 2027.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"depends","on_probation":"depends","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"For a felony that is not one of the three disqualifying offenses, the Department of Elections says the right to register \"is restored automatically when you are released from incarceration,\" with no application to the Governor, and applications from people incarcerated for a felony are held until release. On the voter registration application, the person answers \"yes\" to the felony question and \"no\" to the restoration question (unless the Governor previously restored their rights), which the Department says will not invalidate the application. For murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter, only the Governor can restore the right: a person who is no longer incarcerated can ask the Secretary of the Commonwealth through restore.virginia.gov or (804) 692-0104, and the Governor has sole discretion. Va. Code § 53.1-231.2 also lets some people petition a circuit court five years after finishing their sentence, but it excludes violent felonies and certain drug and election felonies, and the Governor still decides. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's restoration page and the official explanation of Question 3 still describe the older rule that any felony conviction takes away the right; the Department of Elections' registration pages apply the court order, and the local general registrar decides each registration.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"For felonies that are not disqualifying, the Department of Elections says the right returns automatically on release from incarceration and lists no payment condition. For the three disqualifying offenses, the Secretary of the Commonwealth's restoration page and the Governor's July 31, 2026 release do not mention fines, fees or restitution, and Va. Code § 53.1-231.2 does not mention them either, so whether payment matters to the Governor's decision is not stated.","lost_for_good_for":["Murder (Va. Code § 18.2-32)","Voluntary manslaughter (Va. Code § 18.2-35)","Involuntary manslaughter (Va. Code § 18.2-36)"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2026-01-22","detail":"A federal court's final order in King v. O'Bannon (E.D. Va., No. 3:23cv408), filed January 22, 2026, barred Virginia election officials from denying or cancelling voter registrations except for convictions of eleven felonies that existed at common law in 1870. The Department of Elections now says only convictions under Va. Code §§ 18.2-32, 18.2-35 and 18.2-36 disqualify, and that people with other felony convictions may register once released from incarceration.","source":{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/felony-convictions-and-voter-eligibility/","title":"Felony Convictions and Voter Eligibility (links the court's final order)","publisher":"Virginia Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":{"date":"2027-01-01","detail":"Ballot Question 3 on November 3, 2026 asks whether to amend Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia \"(i) to provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, (ii) to revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and (iii) to update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting?\" Under 2026 Acts of Assembly chapter 5 (SB 6), if a majority votes yes, the amendment takes effect January 1, 2027. Companion laws (2026 Acts chapters 992 and 1081, SB 162 and HB 964, approved April 22, 2026) take effect the same day only if it passes: they say a person convicted of a felony is \"invested with all political rights\" on release from incarceration, bar requiring a court order or other documentation to register, and repeal the circuit-court petition process in Va. Code §§ 53.1-231.1 and 53.1-231.2.","source":{"url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB6/text/CHAP0005","title":"2026 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 5 (SB 6), approved February 6, 2026","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/felony-convictions-and-voter-eligibility/","title":"Felony Convictions and Voter Eligibility (Virginia Department of Elections)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Va. Const. art. II, § 1","url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article2/section1/"},{"cite":"Va. Code § 53.1-231.2","url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title53.1/chapter4/section53.1-231.2/"},{"cite":"2026 Va. Acts ch. 5 (SB 6) (Question 3 referendum)","url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB6/text/CHAP0005"},{"cite":"2026 Va. Acts chs. 992 and 1081 (SB 162, HB 964), contingent on Question 3","url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB964/text/CHAP1081"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/felony-convictions-and-voter-eligibility/","title":"Felony Convictions and Voter Eligibility","publisher":"Virginia Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/election-voter-faq/","title":"Election and Voter FAQ (\"I have been convicted of a felony. Can I vote?\")","publisher":"Virginia Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register/","title":"How to Register (eligibility list)","publisher":"Virginia Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-constitutional-amendment-question-3/","title":"Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Question 3","publisher":"Virginia Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/electionadministration/electionlaw/11-3-26-Special-Explanation-for-Q3-Voting.pdf","title":"Explanation for Proposed Constitutional Amendment Question 3 (approved by Joint P&E Committee 6/22/2026)","publisher":"Virginia Department of Elections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB6/text/CHAP0005","title":"2026 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 5 (SB 6)","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB6","title":"SB6, 2026 Regular Session (bill history)","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article12/section1/","title":"Constitution of Virginia, Article XII, Section 1 (Amendments)","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article2/section1/","title":"Constitution of Virginia, Article II, Section 1 (Qualifications of voters)","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title53.1/chapter4/section53.1-231.2/","title":"Va. Code § 53.1-231.2 (Restoration of the civil right to be eligible to register to vote to certain persons)","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.restore.virginia.gov/restoration-of-rights-process/","title":"Restoration of Rights Process","publisher":"Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/july-releases/name-1121876-en.html","title":"Governor Spanberger news release on restoration of rights (July 31, 2026)","publisher":"Office of the Governor of Virginia","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB964/text/CHAP1081","title":"2026 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 1081 (HB 964), approved April 22, 2026","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB162/text/CHAP0992","title":"2026 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 992 (SB 162), approved April 22, 2026","publisher":"Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/virginia"},{"state":"Washington","code":"WA","answer":"after_release","summary":"In Washington, people with a felony conviction lose the right to vote only while they are serving a sentence of total confinement in prison. The right comes back automatically on release, including for people on community custody or probation, and for convictions from federal court or another state once the person is no longer incarcerated. People who were registered before must register again to get a ballot.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"can_vote","on_probation":"can_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"For a Washington felony conviction, the right to vote \"is automatically restored as long as the person is not serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections\"; for a federal or other-state felony, it is restored \"as long as the person is no longer incarcerated\" (RCW 29A.08.520(1)). A person who was sentenced to total confinement or otherwise incarcerated \"must reregister to vote prior to voting.\" The Secretary of State says the right is restored immediately on release from prison, that a certificate of discharge is not required to register, and that a person can vote while in partial confinement at a reentry center or on community supervision, probation or parole. Confinement imposed as a sanction for a community custody violation does not count as total confinement (RCW 29A.08.520(3)).","fines_and_fees":"not_required","fines_and_fees_detail":"RCW 29A.08.520 restores the right automatically based only on whether the person is serving total confinement or is incarcerated, and the Secretary of State says a certificate of discharge is not required to register.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2022-01-01","detail":"The current text of RCW 29A.08.520, which restores the right automatically unless the person is serving total confinement under the Department of Corrections (or, for federal and other-state convictions, is incarcerated), comes from 2021 c 10, which took effect January 1, 2022.","source":{"url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.08.520","title":"RCW 29A.08.520, Felony conviction—Restoration of voting rights","publisher":"Washington State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-eligibility-resources/felony-convictions-and-voting-rights","title":"Felony Convictions and Voting Rights (Washington Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"RCW 29A.08.520","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.08.520"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.08.520","title":"RCW 29A.08.520, Felony conviction—Restoration of voting rights","publisher":"Washington State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-eligibility-resources/felony-convictions-and-voting-rights","title":"Felony Convictions and Voting Rights","publisher":"Washington Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/FelonyVotingRightsWA_English.pdf","title":"Voting After a Felony Conviction (outreach handout, updated 6/2025)","publisher":"Washington Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/proposed-ballot-measure-information","title":"Proposed Ballot Measure Information (2026)","publisher":"Washington Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/washington"},{"state":"West Virginia","code":"WV","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In West Virginia, a person convicted of a felony, treason or bribery in an election, under state or federal law, can't register or stay registered while serving the sentence, including any incarceration, probation or parole. Once the sentence is fully served, the person may register again and vote in the next election.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"The disqualification lasts \"while serving his or her sentence, including any period of incarceration, probation or parole\" (W. Va. Code § 3-2-2(b)). The Secretary of State says that once the sentence is fully served and the person is \"off papers,\" they may re-register to vote and take part in the next election. No application or certificate is needed.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"W. Va. Code § 3-2-2(b) and the Secretary of State tie eligibility to serving the sentence, including incarceration, probation and parole. The Secretary of State's brochure says \"off papers\" means a person \"is no longer subject to any conditions or restrictions as part of their parole or probation,\" but none of these sources mentions fines, fees or restitution or says whether unpaid amounts keep a sentence from being complete.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.wv.gov/elections/voter-information/elections-frequently-asked-questions-faqs","title":"Elections Frequently Asked Questions, \"Is someone convicted of a crime allowed to register to vote?\" (West Virginia Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"W. Va. Code § 3-2-2(b)","url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/3-2-2/"},{"cite":"W. Va. Const. art. IV, § 1","url":"https://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/3-2-2/","title":"West Virginia Code § 3-2-2 (Eligibility to register to vote)","publisher":"West Virginia Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.wv.gov/elections/voter-information/elections-frequently-asked-questions-faqs","title":"Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)","publisher":"West Virginia Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm","title":"West Virginia Constitution, Article IV, § 1 (Election and officers)","publisher":"West Virginia Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.wv.gov/media/466/download?inline","title":"What You Need to Know: Felon Voting Rights in West Virginia (brochure)","publisher":"West Virginia Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sjr9%20sub1%20enr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=9&houseorig=s&billtype=jr","title":"Senate Joint Resolution 9 (2026), enrolled: Amendment 1, Citizenship Requirement to Vote in West Virginia Elections Amendment","publisher":"West Virginia Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/west-virginia"},{"state":"Wisconsin","code":"WI","answer":"after_sentence","summary":"In Wisconsin, people convicted of a felony can't vote while serving any part of the sentence, including prison, extended supervision, parole or probation. The right comes back when the sentence is complete and the person is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision (\"off paper\"), and the person must register again.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"automatic","restoration_detail":"A person disqualified under Wis. Stat. § 6.03(1)(b) has the right to vote restored \"when he or she completes the term of imprisonment or probation\" for the crime, and \"imprisonment\" includes parole and extended supervision (Wis. Stat. § 304.078(1)(a), (3)). The Department of Corrections, or the jailer for a county jail sentence, must tell the person in writing when the right is restored. The Elections Commission says rights return once the person is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision and that \"You must re-register to vote\"; no special documents are needed beyond proof of residence, but the person certifies on the registration form that they are no longer under correctional supervision. A pardon also restores the right.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"The statute ties restoration to completing the term of imprisonment (including parole and extended supervision) or probation, and the Elections Commission's pages do not address fines, fees or restitution. Wis. Stat. § 304.074(4m) shows that a person can be discharged from probation or a sentence while still owing Department of Corrections supervision fees, but no official source opened says whether unpaid fines, court costs or restitution delay restoration of the right to vote.","lost_for_good_for":[],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":null,"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://elections.wi.gov/resources/brochures/ex-felons-and-incarcerated-voters-and-photo-id-law","title":"Ex-Felons and Incarcerated Voters and the Photo ID Law (Wisconsin Elections Commission)"},"statute":[{"cite":"Wis. Stat. § 6.03(1)(b)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/6/i/03"},{"cite":"Wis. Stat. § 304.078(1), (3)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/304/078"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/304/078","title":"Wis. Stat. § 304.078 (Restoration of civil rights of convicted persons)","publisher":"Wisconsin State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/6/i/03","title":"Wis. Stat. § 6.03 (Disqualification of electors)","publisher":"Wisconsin State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.wi.gov/resources/brochures/ex-felons-and-incarcerated-voters-and-photo-id-law","title":"Ex-Felons and Incarcerated Voters and the Photo ID Law","publisher":"Wisconsin Elections Commission","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ex_felons_incarcerated_voters_wi_voter_guide_pdf_42117.pdf","title":"Ex-Felons and Incarcerated Voters (voter guide)","publisher":"Wisconsin Elections Commission","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/304/074","title":"Wis. Stat. § 304.074 (Reimbursement fee for persons on probation, parole, and extended supervision)","publisher":"Wisconsin State Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://farmingtonwaup.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Type-C-Notice-of-Referendum-for-2026-General-Election.pdf","title":"Type C Notice of Referendum, November 3, 2026 General Election (statewide questions)","publisher":"Town of Farmington, Waupaca County, Wisconsin","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/wisconsin"},{"state":"Wyoming","code":"WY","answer":"some_need_action","summary":"In Wyoming, a felony conviction takes away the right to vote until it is restored. People whose only felony conviction is a nonviolent Wyoming felony (or nonviolent felonies from the same occurrence) get a restoration certificate automatically from the Department of Corrections after finishing the whole sentence, if they finished on or after January 1, 2010; those who finished earlier, and people whose only felony conviction is a nonviolent one from another state, must send a written request, and people with a violent felony or felonies from more than one occurrence may apply to the Governor. The 2025 law provides no restoration certificate for a federal felony conviction, and the Secretary of State says a felony conviction from anywhere has to be restored in Wyoming before the person can register.","in_prison":"cannot_vote","on_parole":"cannot_vote","on_probation":"cannot_vote","restoration":"mixed","restoration_detail":"Under W.S. 7-13-105 as amended in 2025, the Department of Corrections automatically issues a certificate restoring voting rights to a person convicted of a nonviolent felony, or nonviolent felonies arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events, who has no other felony conviction and has completed the whole sentence, including probation or parole; no application is required for people who completed a Wyoming sentence on or after January 1, 2010. People who finished such a Wyoming sentence before January 1, 2010, and people with a qualifying nonviolent felony under another state's laws, must send a written request on the department's form. A person with a Wyoming or other-state felony who doesn't qualify for a department certificate (for example, a violent felony or felonies from more than one occurrence) may apply in writing to the Governor, who may issue a certificate once the sentence expires or probation is completed (W.S. 7-13-105(a), (j)(i)). A pardon or a reversed or annulled conviction also ends the disqualification (W.S. 6-10-106). The Department of Corrections mails the certificate and notifies the Secretary of State; a new felony conviction voids it.","fines_and_fees":"not_stated","fines_and_fees_detail":"W.S. 7-13-105 requires completion of the whole sentence, including probation or parole, and does not mention fines, fees or restitution; the Department of Corrections page does not mention them either.","lost_for_good_for":["Violent felonies (as defined in W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii)): no automatic certificate; restoration only by the Governor's discretionary certificate or a pardon","Felony convictions arising from more than one occurrence: no automatic certificate; restoration only by the Governor's discretionary certificate or a pardon","Federal felony convictions: as amended in 2025, W.S. 7-13-105(j) makes restoration certificates available only for convictions under the laws of Wyoming or another state, so no certificate is provided for a federal conviction; W.S. 6-10-106 lists a pardon or a reversed or annulled conviction as other ways the rights return"],"exception":null,"must_reregister":"yes","recent_change":{"date":"2025-03-03","detail":"2025 Senate File 9 (Session Laws 2025, ch. 100), signed March 3, 2025 and effective on becoming law, amended W.S. 7-13-105. It added subsection (j), which lists convictions under the laws of Wyoming or another state as the ones eligible for restoration certificates; added that a new felony conviction voids a certificate; made Department of Corrections ineligibility findings subject to judicial review; and amended the violent-felony definition and notification rules.","source":{"url":"https://www.wyoleg.gov/2025/Digest/SF0009.pdf","title":"SF0009 (2025) Bill Digest","publisher":"Wyoming Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"}},"pending_change":null,"official_voter_page":{"url":"https://sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=ELEC","title":"Elections FAQs (Wyoming Secretary of State)"},"statute":[{"cite":"W.S. 7-13-105","url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title07.pdf"},{"cite":"W.S. 6-10-106","url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title06.pdf"},{"cite":"W.S. 22-3-102(a)(v), (e)(ii)","url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title22.pdf"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title07.pdf","title":"Wyoming Statutes Title 7 (W.S. 7-13-105, Certificate of restoration of rights)","publisher":"Wyoming Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title06.pdf","title":"Wyoming Statutes Title 6 (W.S. 6-10-106, Rights lost by conviction of felony; restoration)","publisher":"Wyoming Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title22.pdf","title":"Wyoming Statutes Title 22 (W.S. 22-3-102, voter qualifications and removal of people who are not qualified electors)","publisher":"Wyoming Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.wyoleg.gov/2025/Enroll/SF0009.pdf","title":"2025 Enrolled Act No. 52 (SF0009), Restoration of rights amendments","publisher":"Wyoming Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://www.wyoleg.gov/2025/Digest/SF0009.pdf","title":"SF0009 (2025) Bill Digest","publisher":"Wyoming Legislature","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://corrections.wyo.gov/field-services/restoration-of-voting-rights","title":"Restoration of Voting Rights","publisher":"Wyoming Department of Corrections","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=ELEC","title":"Elections FAQs","publisher":"Wyoming Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/State/RegisteringToVote.aspx","title":"Registering to Vote","publisher":"Wyoming Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"},{"url":"https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2026/2026_Statewide_Ballot_Propositions.pdf","title":"2026 General Election Statewide Ballot Propositions","publisher":"Wyoming Secretary of State","accessed":"2026-10-22"}],"last_verified":"2026-10-22","page":"https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/wyoming"}]}