Worried you can’t vote again? Restoring voting rights after felony conviction depends on your state: as of Ballotpedia’s November 2026 update, 40 states restore rights automatically and eight need an extra step.
This guide sits within the wider topic of criminal justice reform and focuses on the voting question.
| Item | Value (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| States that automatically restore voting rights | 40 states |
| States where an additional action is needed first | Eight states |
| Places where people never lose the right to vote | Two states (Maine and Vermont) plus Washington, D.C. |
| States restoring rights on completion of the prison sentence | 24 states |
| States requiring prison, probation and parole to be completed | 14 states |
| Louisiana alternative timeline after release from prison | Five years |
These figures come from Ballotpedia’s page on voting rights for people with felony convictions, which reflects the position as of November 2026. State rules and counts can change, so check the source and your state’s election office before you rely on them.
Why the answer depends on where you live
When people with a felony conviction may vote, and what they must do to regain that right, vary from state to state, according to Ballotpedia as of November 2026. Policies range from never losing the vote to never regaining it for certain offences without state action.
The first job is to find the group your state falls into. This list follows Ballotpedia’s November 2026 breakdown:
- Never lost: Maine, Vermont and Washington, D.C.
- Restored after the prison sentence: 24 states.
- Restored after prison, probation and parole: 14 states.
- Mixed timelines: Missouri and Louisiana have their own rules, covered below.
- State action needed for certain felonies: five states, with Tennessee named as one where rights are never restored for certain felonies.
- State action needed for any felony under state law: two states, where executive orders or judicial rulings have since modified the policy.
These groups describe the systematic rules. Ballotpedia also notes that in some states governors may restore voting rights by pardon on an individual basis, and that its table applies to state and federal convictions unless it says otherwise.
What does automatic restoration actually mean?
As of November 2026, 40 states automatically restore voting rights, according to Ballotpedia. In practice that means you do not have to take any step beyond registering or re-registering to vote.
Eight states do not work that way. In those states a person must take an additional action before they can register, such as applying to a board or receiving a pardon.
Even where restoration is automatic, the timing differs. Some states restore the vote when the prison term ends, while others wait until probation and parole are finished too.
Two states show how mixed the timelines can be. In Missouri, rights return for people convicted of 11 crimes only after prison, parole and probation, while for all other crimes they return after the prison sentence alone. In Louisiana, rights return after prison, parole and probation, or five years after release from prison, whichever comes first, per Ballotpedia.
Two state examples: Alabama and Alaska
Alabama and Alaska illustrate how much the process can differ. Both examples come from the state table on Ballotpedia, as of November 2026.
In Alabama, people convicted of one of 15 crimes involving moral turpitude are permanently disqualified unless they are pardoned. Those convicted of other felonies may apply to the Board of Pardons and Parole once the sentence is complete, including payment of all fines, fees and restitution ordered by a court.
In Alaska, rights are restored to people convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude once the whole sentence, including probation and parole, is complete. Restoration is not automatic there: you must submit proof of unconditional discharge to the Division of Elections to register. People convicted of felonies that do not involve moral turpitude do not lose the right to vote.
Steps to check before you register
The state examples above suggest a practical order of work. Use it as a checklist, then confirm the details with your state’s election office.
- Find your state in the state-by-state table on Ballotpedia and note which group it falls into.
- Work out what “completing your sentence” means there: prison only, or also parole and probation, and in some places fines, fees and restitution.
- Gather proof of discharge if your state asks for it, as Alaska does for some convictions.
- Find the right agency if rights are not automatic, such as the Board of Pardons and Parole in Alabama.
- Register or re-register once you are eligible.
If your state’s rules look unclear or you are unsure whether your sentence counts as complete, ask the state election office to confirm before you register.
Other barriers after a conviction
Voting is one barrier among several people face after a sentence. Readers following the policy debate can also look at cash bail reform for the pretrial side of the system.
Work is another area where a record can limit options, which is covered in a guide to occupational licensing barriers for felons.
Frequently asked questions
Do people lose the right to vote in every state after a felony conviction?
Show answer
No. As of Ballotpedia’s November 2026 update, people with felony convictions never lose the right to vote in Maine, Vermont and Washington, D.C. Every other state has some rule on when the right is restored. See Ballotpedia for details.
Is restoration automatic?
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In 40 states it is, as of November 2026, meaning you only need to register or re-register. Eight states require an additional action before you can register, according to Ballotpedia.
Do unpaid fines and fees matter?
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They can. In Alabama, applying to have eligibility restored comes after completing the sentence, including payment of fines, fees and restitution ordered by a court, per Ballotpedia as of November 2026. Rules in other states differ, so check yours.
Can a governor restore voting rights?
Show answer
In some states, yes. Ballotpedia notes that governors may use executive authority to restore voting rights by pardon on an individual basis, as of its November 2026 update.
Does a federal conviction change the rules?
Show answer
Ballotpedia says that, unless otherwise noted, its state-by-state information applies to people convicted of felonies in both state and federal courts, as of November 2026. Confirm the details for your state with its election office.
