The presidential election is a time-honored tradition in the US in which roughly half of eligible voters turn out to elect the next leader of the nation. For most, voting is a privilege; for some it’s a hassle, and for others it’s forbidden. Currently incarcerated felons are only eligible to vote in two states: Vermont and Maine. In other states, individuals with felonies on their record may or may not be able to vote at all – regardless of whether or not they’ve completed their sentences. So, can California felons vote this November?
Maybe.
In the State of California, voting rights are suspended for felons who are currently serving their sentence or on parole. Once the individual has been released from custody and has satisfied the conditions of their parole, their voting rights are usually reinstated. Individuals sentenced to probation or are convicted of misdemeanors are allowed to vote in all elections.
While in jail, individuals are allowed to vote if:
- They are still awaiting their trial for a crime
- If they have been convicted of a misdemeanor offense
- If they are jailed on a probation violation
- If they are on felony probation
If an individual has been convicted of a felony and had their voting rights suspended, they will automatically have those rights restored once they meet certain criteria, such as no longer being in prison and their parole has been completed. Additionally, those who are under post-release community supervision or mandatory supervision must fulfill those obligations before they are eligible to vote.
Once all obligations have been met, an individual doesn’t need to “do” anything in order to have their voting rights reinstated. However, they will need to register to vote once again. Voter registration forms can be obtained at the DMV, the post office or the county elections office.