III. More details on State Felon Voting Policies:
convicted felons immediately upon their release from prison.
Previously, convicted felons in Maryland had to complete all parole and probation before they were able to vote.
Senate Bill 340
(accessed Feb. 9, 2016)
Mississippi - People convicted of a felony are barred from voting only if they have been convicted of one or more of the following specific felony crimes (in alphabetical order): "murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, bigamy, armed robbery, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, larceny, receiving stolen property, robbery, timber larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, statutory rape, carjacking, or larceny under lease or rental agreement"
To regain the ability to vote, an individual, after completion of his/her sentence, must go to his/her state representative and convince them to personally author a bill restoring the vote to that individual. Both houses of the legislature must then pass the bill. Re-enfranchisement can also be granted directly by the governor.
Individuals convicted of felonies in Mississippi remain eligible to vote for US President in federal elections.
Mississippi Voter Registration Application (50 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Mississippi Constitution: Article 12, Section 241 (50 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Mississippi Constitution: Article 12, Section 253 (6 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Missouri - People convicted of "a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage" are not permitted to vote.
Missouri Code: Chapter 115, Section 115.133 (28 KB)
(accessed July 15, 2014)
Nebraska - People convicted of a felony are automatically permitted to vote two years after completion of their sentence of incarceration and all parole and probation for all convictions except treason.
Nebraska Code: Section 32-313 (16 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Nevada - The vote is automatically restored to all people convicted of a nonviolent felony after the sentence completion. People convicted of a violent felony and all second- time felony offenders (whether violent or nonviolent) are not automatically re-enfranchised. Those individuals must seek restoration of their voting abilities in the court in which they were convicted.
Nevada Code: Section NRS 213.09 (26 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
South Dakota - On Mar. 19, 2012, HB 1247 was enacted. The bill took the ability to vote away from convicted felons serving terms of probation. Previously, only people on parole or incarcerated were ineligible to register to vote. Now convicted felons must serve their full term of incarceration, parole, and probation before they may register to vote.
South Dakota: HB 1247 (10 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Tennessee - All people convicted of a felony since 1981, except for some serious felonies such as murder, rape, treason and voter fraud, may apply to the Board of Probation and Parole for voting restoration upon completion of their sentence.
People convicted of a felony between Jan. 15, 1973, and May 17, 1981, are eligible to register to vote regardless of the crime committed. People convicted of certain felonies prior to Jan. 15, 1973 may be barred from voting.
Tennessee General Assembly, Public Chapter 860 (31 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Tennessee Voting Restoration Application (333 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Virginia - On Apr. 18, 2014 Governor Terry McAuliffe announced changes to Virginia's restoration of rights process. Under the new rules, people convicted of non-violent felonies (including drug crimes) will have their ability to vote automatically restored providing that they:
1. have completed their term of incarceration and all probation or parole;
2. have paid all court costs, fines, and any restitution; and
3. have no pending felony charges.
On June 23, 2015 Governor McAuliffe announced that "outstanding court costs and fees will no longer prohibit an individual from having his or her rights restored."
On Apr. 22, 2016, Governor McAuliffe signed an order restoring the vote to all 200,000+ felons in Virginia, regardless of their charge, who had completed their term of incarceration and their term of probation or parole. The New York Times reports (Apr. 22, 2016, "Virginia Governor Restores Voting Rights to Felons") that the governor’s action will not apply to felons released in the future, although the Governor’s aides say he plans "to issue similar orders on a monthly basis to cover people as they are released."
On July 22, 2016 the Virginia Supreme Court overturned Gov. Terry McAuliffe's blanket restoration of voting rights for over 200,000 convicted felons. In a press release the Governor stated that he "will expeditiously sign nearly 13,000 individual orders to restore the fundamental rights of the citizens who have had their rights restored and registered to vote. And I will continue to sign orders until I have completed restoration for all 200,000 Virginians."
Governor McAuliffe's Statement on the Virginia Supreme Court Decision (146 KB)
(accessed July 26, 2016)
Governor McAuliffe Restores Voting and Civil Rights to Over 200,000 Virginians (146 KB)
(accessed Apr. 22, 2016)
Governor McAuliffe Announces New Reforms to Restoration of Rights Process (450 KB)
(accessed July 2, 2015)
Governor McAuliffe’s Letter Outlining His Policy Changes (433 KB)
(accessed Apr. 21, 2014)
Washington - All people with a felony conviction must re-register to vote after completion of their sentence and all parole and probation. However, the Secretary of State's website states that people who have "willfully failed to make three payments in a 12 month period" on any court imposed fines may have their ability to vote revoked by the prosecutor.
Elections and Voting (76 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)
Wyoming - People convicted of a first-time nonviolent felony may apply to the Board of Parole for voting restoration five years after completion of their sentence, all others convicted of a felony must apply directly to the governor five years after completion of their sentence to have their voting ability restored.
2003 Restoration of Voting Rights Bill (123 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012)Wyoming Restoration of Voting Rights Application (10 KB)
(accessed June 8, 2012
You keep proving Trumps point about Negros having shytty schools every time you post...and youre way off i guarantee im darker than 97% of you low literacy militants.
Third Shame on YOU for intersecting the interests of Black people and Violent felons...most of those Nikkas were put away for Killing or trying to kill another Black man(or victimizing black people in many other ways)...
He was wrong and so are you....He was nit picking and creating a straw-man argument..my comments were limited to violent offenders..I actually support an end to the drug war and full decriminalization
teaches me a lesson about trying to get by with the minimum number of words
Thanks for the free tip but i disagree...you skipped past my first post which clearly stated my opinion in no uncertain terms
....why are Black voting rights being portrayed as mutually exclusive with denying violent felons rights
