Voting Rights Restoration Process Survey
Survey of all 50 States and the District of Columbia
Updated: 4/11/16
For More Information Contact:
Mark Listes, Executive Director
[email protected]
- States that Restore the Right to Vote Upon Completion of Sentence State
Alaska*
Arkansas*
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware1
Georgia*
Idaho*
Kansas*
Louisiana*
Minnesota*
Missouri*
Nevada2
New Jersey*
New Mexico*
New York
North Carolina*
Oklahoma*
Tennessee3
South Carolina*
South Dakota*
Texas*
West Virginia
Wisconsin
What Convictions Cause the Loss of
the Right to Vote:
any felony
any felony
felony + imprisonment
felony
felony + imprisonment
any felony
crime of moral turpitude
any felony
any felony
any felony
any felony
any felony
any felony
any crime that is not a petty offense
any felony
any felony + imprisonment
any felony
any felony
Certain felonies
any felony; some misdemeanors
any felony
any felony
any felony
any felony
The above listed states restore their voters’ rights once the voter is no longer incarcerated
and has completed any applicable parole.
* In states marked with an asterisk, one must complete both parole and probation before
one’s right to vote is restored
In Delaware: Most voting rights are restored upon completion of sentence, but some
crimes such as murder and sex crimes require gubernatorial action
2 In Nevada, first-time offenders who are honorably discharge from parole are
automatically given their right to vote back. The process is different for repeat-offenders
3 Tennessee restores upon successful completion and submission of the Restoration of
Voting Rights Form. Voters with certain convictions may not restore their rights through
this process.
1
- States that Restore the Right to Vote Upon Discharge from Incarceration -
State
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Utah
What Convictions Cause
the Loss of the Right to
Vote:
any felony
any felony
any felony
infamous crime
any felony
any felony
any crime + incarceration
any felony
any felony
any felony
any felony
any felony
any crime while
incarcerated
any felony
any felony
In the above listed states, voters’ rights are restored upon release from incarceration. In
these states completion of parole or probation is not a requirement that one must complete
before one is able to restore his or her voting rights.
- States that Do Not Disenfranchise Voters Upon Felony Conviction State
Maine
Vermont
Right to Vote Lost?
Not Lost
Not Lost
The above listed states do not disenfranchise their voters upon felony conviction. In these
states, voters may vote from prison.
- States that Restore the Right to Vote Automatically State
Nebraska
Waiting Period
2 Years
- States with Executive Application or Petition Process –
State
Florida
Iowa
Kentucky
Virginia
Loss
any felony
infamous crime
(imprisoned)
any felony
any felony
Restoration
gubernatorial restoration/ application
gubernatorial restoration/ application
gubernatorial restoration/ application
gubernatorial restoration/ application
The above listed states permanently disenfranchise their voters upon felony conviction.
These states provide an application or petition process by which voters may petition the
executive branch to restore their voting rights.
- States with Unique Processes State
Alabama
Arizona
Mississippi
Washington
Wyoming
Loss
crime of moral
turpitude
any felony
21 Specific Crimes
any felony
any felony
Restoration Process
Two Processes depending on the crime: (1)
Administrative Process; (2) Pardon Required
First offenders’ rights restored upon discharge;
recidivists by court petition
Governor’s Pardon or Legislative Process
Provisionally upon discharge then a court must restore
the voter’s rights permanently
5 year waiting period before restoration, then either
application process or petition for gubernatorial action