Last updated on: 7/20/2021 | Author: ProCon.org

International Comparison of Felon Voting Laws

Archived Resource: The most definitive sources on this topic have been used for this resource, but each is from 2012 or older. Updated sources do not seem to be available. If updated sources do become available, this resource will be updated. For now, please note the dates of the sources and for which countries each each was used at the bottom of this page.

The chart below presents an overview of how 45 countries regulated the ability of felons to vote in prison, out of prison, or not at all.

The United States, Belgium, Germany, and Iceland have disenfranchisement laws which vary based on specific factors, such as the felon’s state of residence or the type of crime committed. State laws, not federal laws, govern felon voting in the United States. These varied voting regulations have necessitated the listing of those countries in two categories, as footnoted beneath chart.

 

No Restriction
(felons can vote even while in prison)
Selective Restriction
(some felons may be banned from voting while in prison)
Complete Ban on Voting While in Prison
(felons can vote upon release from prison)
Postrelease Restrictions
(felons are banned from voting even after release from prison)
21 Countries14 Countries10 Countries4 Countries
1.ArgentinaX
2.ArmeniaX
3.AustraliaX
4.AustriaX
5.BelgiumXX1
6.BosniaX
7.BrazilX
8.BulgariaX
9.CanadaX
10.ChileX
11.CroatiaX
12.Czech RepublicX
13.DenmarkX
14.EstoniaX
15.FinlandX
16.FranceX
17.GermanyXX2
18.GreeceX
19.HungaryX
20.IcelandXX3
21.IndiaX
22.IrelandX
23.IsraelX
24.ItalyX
25.LatviaX
26.LithuaniaX
27.LuxembourgX
28.MacedoniaX
29.MaltaX
30.New ZealandX
31.NorwayX
32.PolandX
33.PortugalX
34.RomaniaX
35.RussiaX
36.San MarinoX
37.SerbiaX
38.SloveniaX
39.SpainX
40.South AfricaX
41.SwedenX
42.SwitzerlandX
43.United StatesX4X4
43.United KingdomX
45.UkraineX
2114104
No Restriction
(felons can vote even while in prison)
Selective Restriction
(some felons may be banned from voting while in prison)
Complete Ban on Voting While in Prison
(felons can vote upon release from prison)
Postrelease Restrictions
(felons are banned from voting even after release from prison)

1 Belgium bans felons from voting after release if sentence was over seven years.

2 Germany bans felons from voting only in rare cases if ordered by the court.

3 Iceland bans from voting those felons whose prison sentence is at least four years.

4 The United States bans felons from voting in some states but not in others. Two states (Maine and Vermont) permit felons to vote while in prison. For a full listing of US state laws view our chart State Felon Voting Laws.

 

Sources:

1. Brandon Rottinghaus, “Incarceration and Enfranchisement: International Practices, Impact, and Recommendations for Reform,” www.ifes.org, July 1, 2003

[Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdon, Ukraine]

2. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “Out of Step with the World: An Analysis of Felony Disenfranchisement in the US and Other Democracies,” www.aclu.org, May 2006

[Austria, Bosnia, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal]

3. Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Act 2010, legislation.govt.nz, Dec. 15, 2010

[New Zealand]

4. Isobel White, “Prisoners’ Voting Rights,” www.parliament.uk, Nov. 6, 2012

[Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, San Marino, Spain]