Felon Disenfranchisement

Know your rights

A state-to-state guide on felon disenfranchisement laws and how to restore your voting rights

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Be a part of the movement to reform felon disenfranchisement laws at the state and national level

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Learn more about the history of felon disenfranchisement laws, the impact they have on our communities, and what lawmakers are doing to change them

Summary of Felon Disenfranchisement Laws


There are 5.3 million people throughout the United States that have lost their right to vote due to a felony conviction. Over 2 million of these people have already completed their sentences, including any necessary probation or parole, yet remain disenfranchised.

Felon disenfranchisement is not a criminal justice issue. It is not even about Democrat, or Republican, or Libertarian, or Green. It is about democracy and human rights. The United States Supreme Court has declared the ability to vote is “the essence of a democratic society,” which “makes all other political rights significant.” When 5.3 million people are denied the ability to perform this essential action, we are no longer living in a democratic nation.

However, felon disenfranchisement laws do more than undermined democracy- they threaten humanity. These laws, coupled with racial biases in arrest and sentencing practices, disproportionately affect minority communities. Thus, stripping away entire communities ability to control the policies which shape their lives. It is these communities who need political power the most, as they must deal with decrepit schools, unending violence, lack of health care and other social services, and inadequate or unaffordable housing.

There is some good news. Many people who have been convicted of a felony and have completed their sentences can already restore their right to vote. Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia automatically restore voting rights to people who have completed their sentences. Other states application processes for the restoring of voting rights. In many cases, these processes have been intentionally made intentionally difficult but there are people available that help ex-felons through the process.

If you or someone you know have been convicted of a felony and want to re-gain your right to vote, please visit our Know Your Rights [hyperlink to page] page to find out the laws in your state. In most cases, your rights will be restored according to the laws in the state you were convicted in.