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Can you vote with a felony in Missouri?

The short answer

After prison.

In Missouri, people lose the right to vote only while in prison for a felony. It comes back on release, including on parole or probation. Some other convictions can affect it too; the details are below.

The 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.1,2,4,5,6

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.1,2,7

Checked October 30, 2026 against 11 sources, starting with Missouri law, then by a second reader.

  1. In prison for a felonyCan't vote1,2
  2. On paroleDepends1
  3. On probationDepends1
  4. Sentence completeCan vote1,7
Check with Missouri'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

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.1,7

When the right doesn't come back on its own

  • A felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage (class one and class three election offenses)

RSMo 115.133.2(3) bars voting 'after conviction of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage,' and RSMo 561.026(2) says such a person 'shall be forever disqualified from registering and voting.' The election code labels class one election offenses (RSMo 115.631, felonies) and class three election offenses (RSMo 115.635, misdemeanors, which include offering money or other value to a voter) as connected with the right of suffrage, and class two election offenses (RSMo 115.633) as felonies not connected with it. Section 561.026 applies 'notwithstanding any other provision of law except for section 610.140,' Missouri's expungement law, and an expungement order under 610.140 restores the right to vote; offenses under section 115.631 are on 610.140's list of crimes that cannot be expunged. Whether a pardon restores eligibility for this group was not confirmed.1,2,4,5,6

Fines, fees and restitution

Not required

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.1,2

Registering again

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm whether a new registration is needed. The election office can tell you.

Misdemeanors and jail

Confinement for any offense counts: RSMo 115.133.2(1) bars voting 'while confined under a sentence of imprisonment,' and RSMo 561.026(1) applies that to a person convicted 'of any offense,' so a person serving a jail sentence for a misdemeanor cannot vote while confined. A misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage (a class three election offense under RSMo 115.635) also bars voting permanently.1,2,5

The bar applies to people 'confined under a sentence of imprisonment,' so by its terms it does not cover people held before trial; no official page opened addresses this directly.1

Convictions from another state or federal court

Not stated. The probation-and-parole rule names Missouri statute chapters and sections; how probation or parole for a federal or out-of-state felony is treated was not confirmed.1

What's changed

August 28, 2026: 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.8

The law

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This page explains Missouri'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 Missouri?" https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/missouri, checked October 30, 2026.

Sources

Each source was opened and checked on October 30, 2026.

  1. RSMo 115.133
  2. RSMo 561.026
  3. RSMo 115.195
  4. RSMo 115.199
  5. RSMo 115.631, 115.633, 115.635
  6. RSMo 610.140
  7. 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)Missouri Revisor of Statutes
  8. HB 1871 (2026): Modifies provisions relating to electionsMissouri House of Representatives
  9. Register to Vote (Missouri Secretary of State)
  10. RSMo 115.133 (version effective 8/28/2003 to 8/28/2026)Missouri Revisor of Statutes
  11. 2026 Ballot MeasuresMissouri Secretary of State