How To Register To Vote In Florida If You Are A Felon

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Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons

It has been common practice in the United States to make felons ineligible to vote, in some cases permanently. Over the final few decades, the general trend has been toward reinstating the right to vote at some bespeak, although this is a state-by-country policy choice. (See Contempo Land Action beneath for a chronology.)

Currently, land approaches to felon disenfranchisement vary tremendously. NCSL has divided states into iv categories, every bit detailed in Table one below.

In all cases, "automatic restoration" does not mean that voter registration is automatic. Typically prison officials automatically inform election officials that an private's rights have been restored. The person is then responsible for re-registering through normal processes. Some states, California is i case, crave that voter registration information be provided to formerly incarcerated people.

In summary:

• In the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their right to vote, even while they are incarcerated.
• In 21 states, felons lose their voting rights but while incarcerated, and receive automatic restoration upon release.
• In 16 states, felons lose their voting rights during incarceration, and for a period of fourth dimension later, typically while on parole and/or probation. Voting rights are automatically restored after this fourth dimension catamenia. Former felons may also take to pay any outstanding fines, fees or restitution earlier their rights are restored every bit well.
• In 11 states felons lose their voting rights indefinitely for some crimes, or require a governor'south pardon in guild for voting rights to exist restored, face an additional waiting period later completion of sentence (including parole and probation) or require additional action before voting rights can exist restored. These states are listed in the fourth category on Table i. Details on these states are found in Table ii beneath.

Tabular array 1: Restoration of Voting Rights Afterwards Felony Convictions

Never Lose Correct to Vote	Lost Only While Incarcerated | Automatic Restoration Subsequently Release	Lost Until Completion of Sentence (Parole and/or Probation) | Automatic Restoration After	Lost Until Completion of Sentence | In Some States a Post-Sentencing Waiting Period | Additional Action Required for Restoration (1)
District of Columbia	California	Alaska	Alabama
Maine	Colorado	Arkansas	Arizona
Vermont	Connecticut	Georgia	Delaware
	Hawaii	Idaho	Florida (3)
	Illinois	Kansas	Iowa
	Indiana	Louisiana	Kentucky
	Maryland (2)	Minnesota	Mississippi
	Massachusetts	Missouri	Nebraska
	Michigan	New Mexico	Tennessee
	Montana	North Carolina	Virginia
	Nevada	Oklahoma	Wyoming
	New Hampshire	South Carolina
	New Jersey	South Dakota
	New York	Texas
	N Dakota	West Virginia
	Ohio	Wisconsin
	Oregon
	Pennsylvania
	Rhode Island
	Utah
	Washington

(1) Details on the procedure for restoration of rights is included in Table 2 below.

(2) In Maryland, convictions for buying or selling votes tin only be restored through pardon.

(iii) An initiated constitutional subpoena in 2018 restored the correct to vote for those with prior felony convictions, except those bedevilled of murder or a felony sexual law-breaking, who must yet petition the governor for restoration of voting rights on a case past case basis. In July 2019, SB 7066 was signed by the governor of Florida which defined "completion of sentence" to include: release from imprisonment, termination of  whatsoever ordered probation, fulfillment of any terms ordered past the courts, termination of any ordered supervision, full payment of any ordered restitution and the full payment of any ordered fines, fees or costs.

Table Two: Details on Policies for Restoration of Rights

State	Details on Policies for Restoration of Rights
Alabama	The Alabama Constitution states that "No person convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, or who is mentally incompetent, shall be qualified to vote until restoration of civil and political rights or removal of disability" (Ala. Const. Fine art. Eight, § 177). Before 2017 there was no comprehensive list of felonies that involve moral turpitude which would disqualify a person from voting. In 2017, HB 282 defined which crimes fit this category (Ala. Code § 17-3-30.1).
Arizona	A conviction for a felony suspends the rights of the person to vote (A.R.Southward. § 13-904) unless they have been restored to civil rights (Ariz. Const. Art. 7 § two). First-time offenders have rights restored upon completion of probation and payment of any fine or restitution (A.R.Southward. § 13-912). A person who has been convicted of two or more than felonies may take civil rights restored past the judge who discharges him at the finish of the term of probation or by applying to the courtroom for restoration of rights (A.R.S. § xiii-905).
Delaware	People who are convicted of disqualifying felonies (murder, blackmail, sexual offenses) are permanently disenfranchised. Those disqualified as a voter because of another type of felony shall accept the disqualification removed upon being pardoned or after the expiration of the sentence, whichever comes commencement (Del. Const., Art. five, § two). In 2013 (HB 10) Delaware removed its 5-year waiting period, allowing those convicted of non-disqualifying offenses to vote upon completion of judgement and supervision.
Florida	Felons must have completed all terms of sentence, which includes probation and parole, and must pay whatever oustanding fines or fees before they can go their voting rights restored (Flor. Stat. §98.0751).
Iowa	A person convicted of any infamous offense shall not exist entitled to the privilege of an elector (Iowa Const. Art. two, § five). In 2016 the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the ban on felon voting, finding that all felonies are "infamous crimes" resulting in permanent disenfranchisement (Griffin v. Pate, 2016). The ability of the governor to restore voting rights to persons convicted of infamous crimes through pardoning power was upheld in State v. Richardson, 2017. In 2005 Governor Tom Vilsack restored voting rights to individuals with former felony convictions via executive social club. Governor Terry Branstad reversed this executive club in 2011.
Kentucky	"Persons bedevilled of treason, or felony, or blackmail in an election, or of such high misdemeanor as the General Assembly may declare shall operate as an exclusion from the correct of suffrage, but persons hereby excluded may exist restored to their ceremonious rights by executive pardon" (KY Const. § 145). Governor Steve Beshear restored voting rights to individuals with former non-violent felony convictions via executive order in 2015. Governor Matt Bevin reversed this executive order shortly after taking office in 2015. The Department of Corrections is required to promulgate authoritative regulations for restoration of ceremonious rights to eligible felony offenders (KRS §196.045).
Mississippi	"A person bedevilled of murder, rape, blackmail, theft, arson, obtaining money or appurtenances under simulated pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy is no longer considered a qualified elector" (Miss. Const. Art. 12, § 241). If an private hasn't committed one of these offenses, rights are automatically restored. If an individual has been convicted of one of these, he or she can still receive a pardon from the governor to restore voting rights (Miss. Lawmaking Ann. § 47-7-41) or by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature (Miss. Const. Art. 12, § 253).
Nebraska	In felony cases, there is a two-year waiting period subsequently completion of probation for the restoration of voting rights (Neb. Rev. St. § 29-2264).
Tennessee	The Tennessee Constitution denies the right to vote persons convicted of an infamous crime (Tenn. Const. Art. 1, § 5). Any felony is considered an "infamous crime" and disqualifies a person from exercising the right of suffrage (T.C.A. § 40-xx-112). Those convicted of infamous crimes may petition for restoration upon completion of the sentence or be pardoned by the governor (T.C.A. § twoscore-29-101, § ii-19-143). Proof of restoration is needed in order to register to vote (T.C.A. § 2-2-139).
Virginia	No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority (VA Const. Art. 2, § ane). The Department of Corrections is required to provide persons convicted of felonies with data regarding voting rights restoration, and help with the procedure established past the governor for the review of applications (VA Lawmaking Ann. § 53.one-231.ane et seq.). Individuals with felony convictions may petition the courts in an attempt to restore their voting rights (VA Code Ann. § 53.one-231.2). In 2016, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced an executive order automatically restoring voting rights to convicted felons who take completed their prison sentence and their term of supervised release (parole or probation) as of April 22, 2016. The Virginia Supreme Court subsequently ruled that rights restoration needs to accept identify on an individual basis, rather than en masse.
Wyoming	A person bedevilled of a felony is not a qualified elector unless his rights are restored (Westward.Due south. § 6-x-106). For persons convicted of nonviolent felonies or a first-time offender, rights are restored automatically (Westward.S. § 7-13-105). Persons who exercise not meet the to a higher place qualifications must be pardoned (Due west.S. § 6-10-106).

Recent State Deportment

• In 2021, Connecticut passed SB 1202 restoring voting rights to citizens on parole.
• In 2021, New York passed SB 830 restoring voting rights to citizens on parole.
• In 2021, Washington passed HB 1078 restoring voting rights to citizens on parole.
• In 2020, California voters passed Proposition 17 restoring voting rights to citizens on parole.
• In 2020, Washington, D.C., passed B 825 and joined Maine and Vermont in allowing bedevilled felons to vote while incarcerated.
• In 2020, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued an executive order restoring the voting rights of felons who take served their sentences. Information technology excludes certain categories of homicide and sexual abuse crimes from automatic restoration. The order does non condition restoration of rights on the payment of fines, fees or restitution to victims.
• In 2020, New Jersey enacted AB 5823, restoring the correct to vote to people with a felony conviction upon release from prison and allowing people on parole or probation to vote.
• In 2019, Nevada enacted AB 431, restoring the right to vote to anyone convicted of felony upon release from prison house. Previous to this legislation, first-fourth dimension, not-fierce offenders could have rights restored upon completion of judgement but those that had committed a fierce crime or 2 or more felonies had to petition a courtroom to grant the restoration of ceremonious rights.
• In 2019, Colorado enacted HB 1266 giving voting rights to individuals on parole, putting it in the category of states that only disenfranchise those who are in prison.
• In 2019, Washington enacted SB 5207 requiring that inmates are notified in writing of the process for restoration of voting rights earlier leaving the authority of the department of corrections.
• In 2019, Illinois enacted SB 2090 to require election regime in a county with a population over three meg to collaborate with the primary county jail where eligible voters are bars or detained to facilitate an opportunity for voting by mail for eligible voters. Illinois also enacted HB 2541 requiring the departments of corrections and juvenile justice to provide nonpartisan peer-led civics programs throughout the correctional institutions on voting rights, governmental institutions, current affairs, and simulations of voter registration, election and autonomous processes.
• In 2019, Oklahoma HB 2253 clarified that persons bedevilled of a felony shall be "eligible to register to vote when they have fully served their sentence of court-mandated calendar days, including whatsoever term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered past the court."
• In July 2019, SB 7066 was signed past the governor of Florida which divers "completion of sentence" to include: release from imprisonment, termination of  any ordered probation, fulfillment of whatever terms ordered by the courts, termination of whatsoever ordered supervision, full payment of any ordered restitution and the full payment of whatever ordered fines, fees or costs.
• In 2018, Florida passed a denizen-initiated constitutional amendment to automatically restore the voting rights of felons after completion of their sentences (including parole and probation). Those convicted of murder or a felony sexual law-breaking must notwithstanding apply to the governor for voting rights restoration on a case by example footing. Before the amendment, anyone convicted of a felony had to accept voting rights restored by a total pardon, conditional pardon, or restoration of civil rights by the governor. The Executive Clemency Board set the rules for restoration of civil rights, which at the time the subpoena passed, included a 5- or seven-year waiting menstruation and a list of crimes for which an individual could never apply for rights restoration.
• In 2018, Colorado SB 150 permitted an private on parole, who is otherwise eligible, to pre-register to vote. When the secretary of state receives notification that the individual has been released from parole, he/she is so registered to vote.
• In 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive gild removing the restriction on parolees voting. New York already allows those on probation to vote. The order may be challenged in courtroom.
• In 2017, Alabama HB 282 provided a list of felonies that involve "moral turpitude" that disqualify a person from exercising his or her right to vote. Previously at that place was no comprehensive, authoritative source for defining a disenfranchising criminal offense in Alabama.
• In 2017, Wyoming enacted HB75 automatically restoring the rights of nonviolent felons.
• In 2017, Louisiana enacted HB 168 improving reporting requirements between The Department of Public Safe and Corrections and the Department of State.
• In 2016, California passed legislation allowing those in county jails to vote while incarcerated, but not country or federal prison house. In 2017 California passed additional legislation requiring information be provided near voting rights restoration on the net and in person to felons exiting prison.
• In 2016, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced an executive order automatically restoring voting rights to convicted felons who have completed their prison sentence and their term of supervised release (parole or probation) as of April 22. This decision was a source of contention with the legislature. In July 2016, the Virginia Supreme Court overturned the order.
• In 2016, Maryland'due south legislature enacted HB 980 and SB 340 (overriding a veto) so that voting rights are automatically restored after completion of the term of incarceration.
• In 2015, outgoing Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed an executive social club to automatically restore the right to vote (and to concur public role) to certain offenders, excluding those who were convicted of violent crimes, sex crimes, bribery, or treason. The club was reversed by incoming Governor Matt Bevin.
• In 2015, Wyoming enacted HB 15 requiring the department of corrections to issue a certification of the restoration of voting rights to sure non-violent felons subsequently completion of sentence.
• In 2013, Delaware eliminated the five-year waiting period before voting rights are restored.
• In 2013, Virginia Governor McDonnell signed an executive order creating new rights restoration processes for persons with prior felony convictions.
• In 2012, South Dakota mandated that felons on probation would not have voting rights restored. Previously, only felons on parole or incarcerated had their voting rights suspended.
• In 2011, the Florida Board of Executive Clemency (comprised of the governor and iii cabinet members) reversed a 2007 policy change that automatically restored voting rights to non-violent offenders upon the completion of their sentence. The new policy requires that all ex-felons wait between five and vii years depending on the crime before applying to regain voting rights.
• In Iowa, the governor in 2011 reversed an executive order issued in 2005 nether the previous governor. The 2005 club automatically restored the voting rights of all ex-felons, but under the 2011 order, they volition at present have to employ to regain rights.
• In 2011 in Tennessee, HB 1117 was enacted, calculation to the listing of felons who are not eligible for automated restoration.
• In 2009, Washington restored the right to vote to felons who completed their sentences, while requiring them to re-annals to vote.

Between 1996 and 2008, 28 states passed new laws on felon voting rights.

• Seven repealed lifetime disenfranchisement laws, at least for some ex-offenders.
• Two gave probationers the right to vote.
• Seven improved information-sharing procedures amid state agencies.
• 9 passed requirements that ex-offenders be given information and/or assistance in regaining their voting rights at the time they complete their sentence.
• Twelve simplified the process for regaining voting rights, for instance, by eliminating a waiting catamenia or streamlining the paperwork process.

Additional Resource

For more than detailed information on land legislation dealing with the voting rights of convicted felons, visit NCSL's 2011-current Ballot Legislation Database and select the subtopic "Voters-Felon Voting Rights." For legislation from the period 2001-2010, visit NCSL'south 2001-2010 Ballot Legislation Database.

• If y'all're looking for information on how you or someone else can regain the right to vote, NCSL is unable to help with or offer advice on this procedure. We advise that you contact election officials in the appropriate jurisdiction to go the most electric current and accurate information bachelor.
• If y'all're seeking full general information on land policies regarding felon voting rights, delight contact NCSL's elections team for more information by electronic mail or at 303-364-7700.
• The Sentencing Project is an advocacy group that offers information on felon disenfranchisement in the states. Its page Felony Disenfranchisement: A Primer contains a land-by-state chronology of state activity on felony disenfranchisement laws since 1997.
• The Restoration of Rights Project, from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, also provides assist on felon disenfranchisement.

Source: https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights.aspx

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