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| RECENT POLICY CHANGES |
Alabama: In 2003, Governor Riley signed into law a bill that permits most felons to apply
for a certificate of eligibility to register to vote after completing their sentence.
Connecticut: In 2001, Governor
Rowland signed into law a bill that extends voting rights to felons on probation. The law made 36,000 persons eligible to
vote.
Delaware: In 2000, the General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment restoring voting
rights to some ex-felons five years after the completion of their sentence.
Florida: In 2007,
the Office of Executive Clemency voted to amend the state's voting rights restoration procedure to automatically approve
the reinstatement of rights for many persons who have been convicted of non-violent offenses. Persons convicted of certain
violent crimes are now immediately eligible to apply for review and approval without a hearing while others must still seek
restoration through a hearing before the Clemency Board.
Iowa: Governor Vilsack issued an executive
order in 2005 automatically restoring the voting rights of all ex-felons, a process that will continue on a monthly basis
upon the completion of sentence.
Kansas: In 2002, the Legislature added probationers to the category
of excluded felons.
Kentucky: In 2001, the Legislature passed a bill that requires that the Department
of Corrections inform and aid eligible offenders in completing the restoration process to regain their civil rights.
Maryland: In 2007, the Legislature repealed all provisions of the state's lifetime voting ban, including the
three-year waiting period after completion of sentence for certain categories of offenses, and instituted an automatic restoration
policy for all persons upon completion of sentence.
Massachusetts: In 2000, the Massachusetts
electorate voted in favor of a constitutional amendment, which strips persons incarcerated for a felony offense of their right
to vote.
Nebraska: In 2005, the Legislature repealed the lifetime ban on all felons and replaced
it with a two-year post-sentence ban.
Nevada: In 2003, the state approved a provision to automatically
restore voting rights for first-time nonviolent felons immediately after completion of sentence.
New Mexico:
In 2001, the Legislature adopted a bill repealing the state's lifetime ban on ex-felon voting. In 2005, a bill was passed
that requires the Department of Corrections to provide notification of completion of sentence to the Secretary of State's
office.
Rhode Island: In 2006, Rhode Island voters approved a referendum to amend the state constitution
and restore voting rights to persons currently serving a sentence of probation or parole.
Tennessee:
In 2006, the Tennessee legislature amended the country's most complex restoration system by greatly simplifying the procedure.
All persons convicted of a felony (except electoral or serious violent offenses) are now eligible to have their right to vote
restored upon completion of sentence and may apply for a "certificate of restoration" from the Board of Probation
and Parole. All applicants must also satisfy any court-ordered restitution or child support obligations.
Texas: In 1997, the Texas Legislature passed a bill, signed by Governor George W. Bush, eliminating the two-year
waiting period after completion of sentence before individuals can regain their right to vote.
Utah:
In 1998, Utah voters approved an amendment prohibiting persons incarcerated for a felony conviction from voting.
Virginia: The Virginia legislature passed a law in 2000 enabling certain ex-felons to apply to the circuit court
for the restoration of their voting rights five years after the completion of their sentence; those convicted of felony drug
offenses must wait seven years after completion. The circuit court's decisions are subject to the Governor's approval.
Wyoming: In 2003, Governor Freudenthal signed a bill to allow people convicted of a non-violent first-time
felony to apply for restoration of voting rights five years after completion of sentence.
(Source: Jamie Fellner and Marc Mauer, Losing the Vote: The Impact of Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States,04/2007)
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