Can you vote with a felony in Oregon?

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

Not required. 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.

The short answer

After prison.

In Oregon, 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.

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 The right is withdrawn again if a person is re-incarcerated, for example for a parole violation.^1,2

Checked October 22, 2026 against 7 sources, starting with Oregon law, then by a second reader.

In prison for a felonyCan't vote^1,3
On paroleCan vote^1,2,3
On probationCan vote^1,3
Sentence completeCan vote after registering again^1,2,4

Check with Oregon'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

ORS 137.281(7) says the rights withdrawn 'are restored automatically upon release from incarceration', but are withdrawn again on a later imprisonment for a parole violation, and 137.281(2) applies the bar to any incarceration imposed as a sanction or revocation for violating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.^1,2,3,4

Fines, fees and restitution

Not required

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.¹

Registering again

Yes

Once the right is back, Oregon requires a new voter registration before voting.^2,3,4

Misdemeanors and jail

Multnomah County Elections says people serving misdemeanor sentences in county jails may vote. One exception in ORS 137.281(5): a person convicted of any crime (not only a felony) and serving a term of imprisonment in a federal correctional institution in Oregon cannot register, update a registration or vote until discharged or paroled, which is why felony_only is false.^1,3

Multnomah County Elections says pretrial detainees may vote, and that a person who has been convicted but not yet sentenced can vote until sentenced; ORS 137.281(1) starts the loss 'from the date of sentencing'.^1,3

Convictions from another state or federal court

Multnomah County Elections says the same rules apply to Oregon residents whether convicted of a federal or state crime, and that a person incarcerated for a felony in another state cannot vote in Oregon. ORS 137.281(5) covers people imprisoned in federal correctional institutions in Oregon.^1,3

The law

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

Sources

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

ORS 137.281
Elections Division: Frequently Asked QuestionsOregon Secretary of State
Voting Rights Information (last reviewed April 13, 2026)Multnomah County Elections Division
Voting in Oregon (Voter Status FAQ)Oregon Secretary of State
2026 Regular Session: ORS sections amended or repealed (A&R Tables)Oregon State Legislature
Upcoming Elections: General Election, November 3, 2026Oregon Secretary of State
SB 579 (2023 Regular Session): Relating to voting by adults in custodyOregon State Legislature