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Can you vote with a felony in Tennessee?

The short answer

It depends.

In Tennessee, the right to vote doesn't come back on its own after a felony. People have to apply to get it back.

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.1,2

Checked October 30, 2026 against 7 sources, starting with Tennessee law, then by a second reader.

  1. In prison for a felonyCan't vote1
  2. On paroleCan't vote1
  3. On probationCan't vote1
  4. Sentence completeMust apply first1,2,3
Check with Tennessee'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

Only by applying

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.1,2,3

When the right doesn't come back on its own

  • 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

The Secretary of State says people convicted of these felonies in these periods cannot have their voting rights restored. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-29-102(b), as rewritten in 2025, says they "shall never be eligible to have the right of suffrage restored", and for convictions on or after July 1, 2006 it also covers matching felony convictions from other states or federal court.1,2,3

Fines, fees and restitution

Required for some people

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.1,2,3,4

Registering again

Yes

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

Misdemeanors and jail

The Secretary of State's guide speaks only of felony convictions. The statute uses the term "infamous crime" as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-20-112, which was not opened.2

The official sources opened don't address people held in jail before trial; the restoration rules apply after a conviction.

Convictions from another state or federal court

A person convicted in federal court or another state of a crime that would be an infamous crime in Tennessee can't register or vote in Tennessee unless pardoned and their right of suffrage is restored under Tennessee law, or the right is otherwise restored under Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-19-143, as rewritten in 2025). The circuit court petition is open to people deprived of rights "by the judgment of any state or federal court".1

What's changed

March 26, 2026: 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.4

The law

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

Sources

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

  1. Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-19-143 (as amended by 2025 Pub. Ch. 298)
  2. Restoration of Voting RightsTennessee Secretary of State
  3. Eligibility to Vote after a Felony Conviction (Rev 4-26)Tennessee Secretary of State
  4. Public Chapter No. 605 (Senate Bill No. 336), 2026Tennessee Secretary of State (Public Acts)
  5. Bill Information: SB 0407 (Pub. Ch. 298), 114th General AssemblyTennessee General Assembly
  6. Bill Information: SB 0336 (Pub. Ch. 605), 114th General AssemblyTennessee General Assembly
  7. Proposed Constitutional Amendments (November 2026 ballot)Tennessee Secretary of State