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Can you vote with a felony in Wyoming?

The short answer

It depends.

In Wyoming, the right to vote comes back on its own for some people with a felony conviction, but others have to take an extra step.

In Wyoming, a felony conviction takes away the right to vote until it is restored. People whose only felony conviction is a nonviolent Wyoming felony (or nonviolent felonies from the same occurrence) get a restoration certificate automatically from the Department of Corrections after finishing the whole sentence, if they finished on or after January 1, 2010; those who finished earlier, and people whose only felony conviction is a nonviolent one from another state, must send a written request, and people with a violent felony or felonies from more than one occurrence may apply to the Governor. The 2025 law provides no restoration certificate for a federal felony conviction, and the Secretary of State says a felony conviction from anywhere has to be restored in Wyoming before the person can register.1,2,4

Checked October 22, 2026 against 9 sources, starting with Wyoming 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 completeDepends1,2,5
Check with Wyoming'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

Depends on the conviction

Under W.S. 7-13-105 as amended in 2025, the Department of Corrections automatically issues a certificate restoring voting rights to a person convicted of a nonviolent felony, or nonviolent felonies arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events, who has no other felony conviction and has completed the whole sentence, including probation or parole; no application is required for people who completed a Wyoming sentence on or after January 1, 2010. People who finished such a Wyoming sentence before January 1, 2010, and people with a qualifying nonviolent felony under another state's laws, must send a written request on the department's form. A person with a Wyoming or other-state felony who doesn't qualify for a department certificate (for example, a violent felony or felonies from more than one occurrence) may apply in writing to the Governor, who may issue a certificate once the sentence expires or probation is completed (W.S. 7-13-105(a), (j)(i)). A pardon or a reversed or annulled conviction also ends the disqualification (W.S. 6-10-106). The Department of Corrections mails the certificate and notifies the Secretary of State; a new felony conviction voids it.1,2,5,6

When the right doesn't come back on its own

  • Violent felonies (as defined in W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii)): no automatic certificate; restoration only by the Governor's discretionary certificate or a pardon
  • Felony convictions arising from more than one occurrence: no automatic certificate; restoration only by the Governor's discretionary certificate or a pardon
  • Federal felony convictions: as amended in 2025, W.S. 7-13-105(j) makes restoration certificates available only for convictions under the laws of Wyoming or another state, so no certificate is provided for a federal conviction; W.S. 6-10-106 lists a pardon or a reversed or annulled conviction as other ways the rights return

These groups are not covered by the Department of Corrections' automatic or by-request certificates. The Governor "may" issue a certificate on written application (W.S. 7-13-105(a)), which makes it discretionary, and the statute limits Governor certificates to convictions under the laws of Wyoming or another state (W.S. 7-13-105(j)(i)). The Department of Corrections' restoration page, which predates the 2025 law, still says people with a federal nonviolent felony may apply; the department's field services line is 307-777-6341.1,2

Fines, fees and restitution

Not confirmed

W.S. 7-13-105 requires completion of the whole sentence, including probation or parole, and does not mention fines, fees or restitution; the Department of Corrections page does not mention them either.

Registering again

Yes

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

Misdemeanors and jail

Only a felony conviction takes away the right to vote under W.S. 6-10-106 and the voter qualifications in W.S. 22-3-102; the sources opened don't treat any misdemeanor as disqualifying.2,3

The official sources opened don't address people held in jail before trial; the disqualification applies to a person "convicted of a felony."

Convictions from another state or federal court

The Secretary of State says a person convicted of a felony, "regardless of where they were convicted," must have the right to vote restored in Wyoming before registering. For a nonviolent felony under another state's laws, the Department of Corrections issues a certificate on written request after the sentence, including probation and parole, is complete (W.S. 7-13-105(c)(ii)). As amended in 2025, W.S. 7-13-105(j) lists only convictions under the laws of Wyoming or another state as eligible for certificates and does not mention federal convictions; the Department of Corrections page, which predates the 2025 law, still says people with a federal nonviolent felony may apply.1,5,7

What's changed

March 3, 2025: 2025 Senate File 9 (Session Laws 2025, ch. 100), signed March 3, 2025 and effective on becoming law, amended W.S. 7-13-105. It added subsection (j), which lists convictions under the laws of Wyoming or another state as the ones eligible for restoration certificates; added that a new felony conviction voids a certificate; made Department of Corrections ineligibility findings subject to judicial review; and amended the violent-felony definition and notification rules.8

The law

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

Sources

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

  1. W.S. 7-13-105
  2. W.S. 6-10-106
  3. W.S. 22-3-102(a)(v), (e)(ii)
  4. Registering to VoteWyoming Secretary of State
  5. 2025 Enrolled Act No. 52 (SF0009), Restoration of rights amendmentsWyoming Legislature
  6. Restoration of Voting RightsWyoming Department of Corrections
  7. Elections FAQsWyoming Secretary of State
  8. SF0009 (2025) Bill DigestWyoming Legislature
  9. 2026 General Election Statewide Ballot PropositionsWyoming Secretary of State