5/1/2023 -
On Apr. 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned a trial court decision. Those convicted of felonies are now required to complete prison, probation, parole, and pay all fines before they may register to vote.
4/10/2023 -
In Mar. 2023, the Youngkin administration announced that people with felony convictions who have completed their sentences would have to apply to have their voting rights restored, a split from the previous three administrations during which rights were restored automatically by the governors.
3/23/2023 -
Newly updated resources include:
State Voting Laws & Policies for People with Felony Convictions
Number of People by State Who Cannot Vote Due to a Felony Conviction
3/7/2023 -
On Mar. 3, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed SF26, which restored the right to vote to people convicted of felonies once they complete their prison sentence(s). Minnesota previously required that parole was completed.
10/25/2022 -
According to The Sentencing Project, about 4.6 million Americans, or 2% of the US population, with felony convictions are unable to vote because of state restrictions on voting. 48 states have some sort of restriction on voting for those with felony convictions, with state-level disenfranchisement ranging from 0.15% in Massachusetts to more than 8% in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
5/24/2022 -
Continuing the policies of his predecessors since 2014, Youngkin announced he would restore voting (and other civil) rights to 3,496 people with felony convictions who have completed their sentences. The Youngkin administration stated rights would be restored “on an ongoing basis.”
8/24/2021 -
A three-judge panel issued a preliminary injunction declaring that people convicted of felonies who have completed their prison time must be allowed to register to vote immediately. The injunction restored the right to vote to about 56,000 people who are on probation, parole or post-release supervision. The injunction may be appealed.
8/9/2021 -
Explore the topic of reenfranchising people withe felony convictions via updated questions, resources, and statistics.
5/5/2021 -
On May 4, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed a bill into law that automatically restores voting rights upon release from prison, even if the person is on parole. Previously, under Cuomo’s executive order, the person would have to apply for a review of records.
4/12/2021 -
The legislation signed on Apr. 7, 2021 by Governor Jay Inslee restoring the right to vote upon release from prison goes into effect in Jan. 2022. Until then, the right to vote is not restored until prison, parole, and probation are completed.
3/17/2021 -
Governor Ralph Northam issued rules that allows those with felony convictions to vote as soon as they have completed their prison sentences, reenfranchising 69,000 people.
11/4/2020 -
On Nov. 3, 2020, California voters approved Proposition 17, which allows people on parole to vote. California joins 18 other states and DC that restore the right to vote after prison.
9/23/2020 -
Rapper and TV star Snoop Dogg and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson both said they would vote for the first time in the Nov. 2020 election. Both stars were convicted of felonies, Snoop Dogg in 1990 and 2007 and Tyson in 1992.
9/14/2020 -
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 6-4 that Florida can require repayment of fines and fees before former felons are eligible to vote.
8/5/2020 -
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order automatically restoring the vote to some former felons who have completed their sentences. People convicted of felony homicide will still have to apply for reenfranchisement.