Can you vote with a felony in Kansas?

Q: Do you have to pay fines and fees before you can vote in Kansas?

Required for some people. 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.

The short answer

After the sentence.

In Kansas, a felony takes away the right to vote through prison, parole and probation. It comes back once the whole sentence is complete. For some people, money owed on the sentence, such as fines or restitution, has to be paid first.

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.^2,4

Checked October 22, 2026 against 5 sources, starting with Kansas law, then by a second reader.

In prison for a felonyCan't vote^2,4
On paroleCan't vote^2,4
On probationCan't vote^2,4
Sentence completeCan vote after registering again^2,3,4

Check with Kansas's election office

Before you register

Your state or county election office can confirm your own status, for free. Voting while ineligible can carry criminal penalties, so if anything about your case is unclear, ask them first. The general election is November 3, 2026; registration deadlines are on vote.gov.

How the right comes back

Automatically

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.^2,3,4

Fines, fees and restitution

Required for some people

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.⁴

Registering again

Yes

Once the right is back, Kansas requires a new voter registration before voting.⁴

Misdemeanors and jail

The Secretary of State says a misdemeanor conviction does not affect the ability to vote. The Kansas Constitution (art. 5, sec. 2) lets the legislature exclude people from voting 'because of commitment to a jail or penal institution,' but the official pages reviewed describe no such rule for misdemeanors.^1,4

Convictions from another state or federal court

K.S.A. 21-6613(a) applies to a felony conviction 'in any state or federal court,' and the Kansas Constitution (art. 5, sec. 2) to a felony 'under the laws of any state or of the United States.' The Secretary of State says federal and state courts report felony convictions so the person is removed from the voter list.^1,2,4

The law

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This page explains Kansas's general rules from its law and election office. It isn't legal advice, and a case can turn on the details of a sentence. The election office can confirm your status.

Spot something out of date? Tell us at contact@secondchanceindex.com.

Cite this page

Second Chance Index, "Can you vote with a felony in Kansas?" https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/kansas, checked October 22, 2026.

Sources

Each source was opened and checked on October 22, 2026.

Kan. Const. art. 5, § 2
K.S.A. 21-6613
K.S.A. 22-3722
Registering to Vote After Completing a Felony SentenceKansas Secretary of State
Proposed Constitutional Amendments (2026 General Election)Kansas Secretary of State