Felon Voting Right Lawyers

What is felon voting right?

Most states do not allow citizens who are convicted of felonies to vote. When a person has no right to vote, they are said to be "disenfranchised." Each state has its own law and may restrict voting rights in different ways. For example, some states permanently strip you of your right to vote if you are convicted of a felony while others will allow you to vote after serving your sentence. There is no federal law regarding voting rights of convicted felons.

Can I Restore My Right to Vote as a Convicted Felon?

In many states it is possible to restore your voting rights after serving your sentence. There may be additional requirements, such as paying fines or being on parole. Whether or not you will be able to restore your voting right depends on the law of your state. A lawyer in your state will be able to help you determine whether restoring your right to vote is possible.

A Brief Rundown of State Laws Regarding Restoration of the Right to Vote

How the right to vote is restricted and whether you can restore it after a felony conviction varies from state to state. Below is a listing of some approaches to restricting and restoring the right to vote:

• Maine and Vermont - these states do not restrict voting rights in any way; even prisoners are allowed to vote
• Illinois, Michigan, and the District of Columbia - these states as well as a handful of others restore the right to vote to those who are out of prison, on probation, or on parole
• California, Colorado, Connecticut, and New York - these states allow people who are on probation to vote. If you are in prison or on parole you do not have the right to vote
• New Jersey, Texas, and Wisconsin - these states, along with many others, do not allow people who are in prison, on probation, or on parole to vote
• Alabama, Arizona, Nevada, and Tennessee - these states, as well as others, permanently strip the right to vote for those convicted of certain felonies. The felonies that qualify differ in each state
• Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Virginia - these states permanently disenfranchise anyone who is convicted of a felony - in other words, if you are convicted of a felony in any of these states you will lose your right to vote permanently
• Also, some states may have different rules regarding voting rights if you are convicted of a second felony

If I Can Restore My Right to Vote, How Do I Do it?

The process for restoring your right to vote will vary from state to state. Many times it will involve some kind of complicated pardon or clemency process. On top of this, restoration of voting rights is a well kept secret. That is, officials are unlikely to inform convicted felons about their voting rights and the fact that they can be restored. Because of this, it is important to know the law on your state. You can learn about the law by contacting a lawyer.

I'd Like to Restore My Voting Right, Do I Need a Lawyer?

The laws regarding voting rights for convicted felons are undergoing great changes. In recent years Connecticut restored voting rights to those on probation and New Mexico repealed its law that permanently disenfranchised those convicted of felonies. There has been a strong push towards restoring the voting rights of convicted felons. Because of this, laws are constantly changing and a lawyer experienced in criminal law will be able to help you determine whether you are eligible to have your voting right restored. If you are eligible, a lawyer can help you with the process as well.