Can felons vote in the 2028 election?
It depends on the state. Most states restore voting rights after prison, parole, or probation; a few require an extra restoration process; Maine and Vermont never take the right away for a felony conviction. There is no single federal rule.
Voting rights for people with felony convictions are set by each state, not by one national law. For the 2028 presidential election, whether you can register and vote depends on where you live (or last lived, for some people who moved after a conviction) and on where you are in the sentence: incarceration, parole, probation, or fully completed.
Two states - Maine and Vermont - allow people to vote even while incarcerated for a felony. Most other states restore rights automatically after release from prison, after parole, or after probation, though the exact trigger varies. A smaller group of states permanently disenfranchises some people for certain felonies unless a governor, court, or board restores rights.
If you have a felony conviction and want to vote in 2028: (1) check your state's official election site or vote.gov for restoration rules, (2) confirm you are registered or re-register if rights were restored, and (3) do not wait until the final week - some restoration paperwork takes time. Nonprofits and state restoration projects often publish plain-language guides, but the official state election office is the source of truth for your registration status.
This page is about voting rights after a conviction. It is different from whether a felon can run for president - federal candidacy is governed by the Constitution's age, citizenship, and residency rules, not state felon-voting statutes.
Related: How to register to vote for 2028 | Can a felon run for president?
Related questions
Can I vote in 2028 if I have a felony?
Do I need to re-register after my rights are restored?
Is there a federal law that bans felons from voting?
Can a felon run for president?
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Related explainers
Register through your state at vote.gov, then vote one of three ways in 2028: in person on Election Day (November 7, 2028), in person during early voting, or by mail/absentee. Registration is handled by each state, so check your state's deadline and rules before you vote.
To vote in the 2028 presidential election, register to vote in your state before its deadline, confirm your registration and any ID requirements, then cast your ballot on Election Day (November 7, 2028) or during your state's early-voting or mail/absentee window.
Yes. The Constitution lists only three eligibility requirements - age, citizenship, and residency. A criminal conviction does not constitutionally bar someone from running for or serving as president.
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