Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. If you have a felony conviction, you may be able to vote in it. In most states, voting rights come back either when you're released or when you finish parole or probation.
One thing to know up front: getting your rights back doesn't register you to vote. You still have to register, and the deadline depends on your state.
Here's how to figure out where you stand and what to do this week.
The rules depend on your state
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) sorts every state into one of four groups (NCSL, updated September 2, 2026).
1. You never lose the right to vote (DC, Maine, Vermont)
In the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont, people with felony convictions keep the right to vote, even while incarcerated.
2. Rights come back automatically at release (23 states)
In these states, you lose the right to vote only while incarcerated for a felony. It's restored automatically when you're released:
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington.
NCSL notes exceptions: in Maryland, convictions for buying or selling votes can only be restored by pardon.
3. Rights come back after you finish your sentence (15 states)
In these states, you lose the right to vote during incarceration and for a time afterward, typically while on parole or probation. Then it's restored automatically. NCSL notes that some states also require outstanding fines, fees or restitution to be paid first:
Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Missouri changed its law in 2026 (HB 1871). Now only certain listed felonies require finishing probation or parole before voting again (NCSL). In Idaho, NCSL notes that state-level treason convictions aren't restored automatically.
4. Extra steps, waiting periods or exceptions (10 states)
In these states, some convictions can mean losing the right to vote indefinitely, or restoration requires a pardon, a waiting period, or an application:
Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.
If you live in one of these states, don't assume you can't vote. In several of these states, the rules depend on the type of offense. Check your state's official process, and start now if you need to apply.
Worth knowing: Virginia voters will decide a proposed constitutional amendment this November that would automatically restore voting rights to people when they're released from incarceration (NCSL). Until any change takes effect, Virginia's current restoration process still applies.
"Automatic" restoration still means you have to register
This is the step people miss. NCSL puts it plainly: "automatic restoration" does not mean voter registration is automatic. Prison officials typically notify election officials that your rights have been restored, but you are responsible for registering again through the normal process. Some states, like California, are required to give formerly incarcerated people voter registration information.
If you were registered before your conviction, don't assume your old registration still works. Register again or confirm your status with your local election office.
Registration deadlines: check yours today
Every state sets its own registration deadline. NCSL reports that in states without same-day registration, deadlines usually fall between 8 and 30 days before Election Day (NCSL). By mid-October, the regular deadline in some states has already passed.
Don't let that stop you. Check first:
- 24 states and Washington, D.C. offer same-day or Election Day registration, letting you register and vote at the same time (NCSL, updated March 27, 2026). The details vary. Some states allow it only during early voting, some only on Election Day, and some only at certain locations.
- North Dakota doesn't have voter registration. Eligible voters bring valid ID showing their name, North Dakota address and date of birth.
- Same-day registration usually requires proof of identity and proof of where you live. If you just got out and don't have ID yet, start there. See our guide on getting your ID after prison.
Check your state: Go to vote.gov, the federal government's official voter registration site, and choose your state. It shows your state's online and mail registration deadlines and links to your state's official election site. Vote.gov also has a page on voting after a felony conviction that links to the U.S. Department of Justice's state-by-state guide to voting rules after a conviction. Your county or city election office can answer questions about your situation directly. They're there to help eligible voters vote.
What if your deadline has already passed?
- Check whether your state offers same-day registration during early voting or on Election Day. Look at the NCSL list or your state's page on vote.gov.
- Call your county or city election office and ask what your options are. They'll know exactly what applies where you live.
- Register anyway for the next election. Missing this year's deadline doesn't stop you from registering for future elections. Getting registered now means you're ready for local, state and primary elections in 2027 and beyond.
If you've moved since you last registered, which is common after release, update your registration with your new address. And if you don't have a permanent address right now, vote.gov says plainly: "You don't need a home to vote." Its guide to voting while unhoused explains what to use for an address and ID.
Your 15-minute voting checklist
- Find your state's category in the lists above, and confirm it on your state election website.
- Make sure your sentence status matches. In "after you finish your sentence" states, find out whether you're still on parole or probation, and whether your state requires fines or restitution to be paid first.
- Check whether you're registered using your state's lookup tool, linked from vote.gov.
- Register before your deadline, or find out whether your state offers same-day registration.
- Plan how you'll vote: early, by mail if eligible, or on Election Day. Write down your polling place and its hours.
- Bring what your state requires: ID rules differ by state, so check before you go.
- Put it on your calendar: your registration deadline, early voting dates, and November 3.
If you're unsure whether you're eligible, ask your state or local election office before you register. Vote.gov warns that registering before you're eligible can result in criminal prosecution, so getting a clear answer first protects you.
For more background, see our earlier guide: Can You Vote After Prison? In Most States, the Answer Is Yes.
The bottom line
In most of the country, a felony conviction doesn't take away your vote forever. In 23 states it comes back the day you're released. In 15 more it comes back after supervision. But getting your rights back doesn't register you. Check your state's rules, register before your deadline (or use same-day registration if your state has it), and make a plan for November 3.
Put the dates on your calendar
Voting runs on deadlines, just like reentry. Free and Forward is a reentry mobile app on the App Store and Google Play. Its calendar lets you add any date, like a registration deadline, early voting day or Election Day, alongside your check-ins and court dates, with reminders on your phone. The calendar and the 27-step reentry checklist are free. Its resources directory also links to help with ID, which you may need to register or vote.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Voting eligibility, registration deadlines and ID rules vary by state and can change. Confirm your eligibility and deadlines with your state or local election office or at vote.gov before you register or vote.
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