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Can you vote with a felony in Louisiana?

The short answer

It depends.

In Louisiana, the right to vote comes back after a felony sentence, but only once the person meets conditions the state sets.

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.1,3,5,6

Checked October 22, 2026 against 10 sources, starting with Louisiana law, then by a second reader.

  1. In prison for a felonyCan't vote1,5
  2. On paroleDepends1,6
  3. On probationDepends1,6
  4. Sentence completeDepends1,2,3
Check with Louisiana'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, with conditions

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)).1,2,3,4,5,6

Fines, fees and restitution

Not confirmed

Registering again

Yes

Once the right is back, Louisiana requires a new voter registration before voting.2,3,5

Misdemeanors and jail

La. R.S. 18:102 applies only to an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony; misdemeanors are not listed.1

What's changed

February 1, 2022: 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).7

The law

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This page explains Louisiana'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 Louisiana?" https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/louisiana, checked October 22, 2026.

Sources

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

  1. La. R.S. 18:102
  2. La. R.S. 18:176(A)
  3. La. R.S. 18:177
  4. La. R.S. 18:177.1
  5. Voter Registration Frequently Asked QuestionsLouisiana Secretary of State
  6. Résumé Digest, Act 636 (HB 265), 2018 Regular SessionLouisiana State Legislature
  7. Enrolled HB 378, 2021 Regular SessionLouisiana State Legislature
  8. HB 361, 2026 Regular Session, bill statusLouisiana State Legislature
  9. SB 134, 2024 Regular Session, bill statusLouisiana State Legislature
  10. Statements of Proposed Constitutional Amendments, November 3, 2026Louisiana Secretary of State