Voting For Formerly Incarcerated Persons
About
About Voting For Formerly Incarcerated Persons
If you've been convicted of a felony, your right to vote is suspended but not permanently taken away.
Individuals who are currently incarcerated or serving sentences on probation or parole do not have the right to vote during that time period. Individuals can have their voting rights restored:
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After five (5) years on probation or parole: If someone has been on probation or parole for a continuous period of 5 years, they can regain their voting rights, even if they are still on probation or parole at that time.
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Completion of your full sentence, including probation or parole: If someone completes their full criminal sentence, including any time they are required to serve on probation or parole, they can regain their voting rights. This means that if their full sentence (incarceration, probation, parole) lasts less than 5 years, they would get their voting rights back as soon as they complete the sentence, rather than having to wait for a full 5 years.
After that five-year period, you're free to register and vote without needing a pardon or any other special clearance.
You can visit the Louisiana Secretary Of State website for a list of forms you may need.
What You Need To Know
You lose your right to vote if you are convicted of a felony. You can't vote while incarcerated, while on probation, or while on parole for five (5) years after your release from prison.
After five (5) years on probation or parole or the completion of your full sentence, including probation or parole, whichever comes first, your right to vote is restored, even if you are on parole or probation.
Conviction of an election offense in Louisiana results in permanent loss of voting rights.
Individuals who have been convicted of a felony are allowed to register to vote and to participate in elections if certain conditions are met:
The specific conditions mentioned are:
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The individual has completed their probation or parole.
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It has been at least five years since they were released from prison.
Additionally, even if an individual is still on probation or parole, as long as it has been at least five years since their release from prison, they retain their right to register and vote.
To register, you must additionally provide documentation to prove that you have completed your probation and/or parole or that you have not been incarcerated within the last five years. It may assist your registrar if you take a copy of your pardon or documents that show you have completed your probation.
It does not matter if your probation was discharged “satisfactorily” or “unsatisfactorily.” It does not matter if your parole was revoked. It does not matter if you did not complete paying all of your fees or restitution ordered under the terms of your sentence or probation. You do not need a pardon to vote. You do not need an expungement to vote. You do not need anyone’s permission to vote.
It does not matter if your probation was discharged “satisfactorily” or “unsatisfactorily.” It does not matter if your parole was revoked. It does not matter if you did not complete paying all of your fees or restitution ordered under the terms of your sentence or probation. You do not need a pardon to vote. You do not need an expungement to vote. You do not need anyone’s permission to vote.
Individuals who are in jail, but who have not been convicted, - even if arrested on a felony offense retain the right to vote. This means that if you are awaiting trial in Louisiana and you meet other eligibility requirements for voting (e.g., age, citizenship), you should be able to vote.
Exercising that right while in jail may involve logistical challenges such as obtaining an absentee ballot.
In Louisiana, a misdemeanor conviction does not strip you of your right to vote. Individuals with misdemeanor convictions are generally still eligible to vote as long as they meet the other voting eligibility criteria, such as being a U.S. citizen, being at least 18 years old on Election Day, and being a resident of Louisiana.
If you have been convicted of a felony and have completed your sentence, you should check with your parish registrar of voters to determine if you are still “registered.”
If your name has been purged, you simply need to re-register. You can even register online through the Louisiana Secretary of State online voter registration portal.
You do not specifically need a driver’s license to vote, however, you do need to provide some form of identification. Here are some acceptable forms of identification as per Louisiana’s requirements:
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A Louisiana driver’s license;
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A Louisiana Special ID;
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A United States military identification card that contains the applicant’s name and picture; or
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Some other generally recognized picture ID card that contains your name and signature.
If you do not have any of the above forms of identification, you can still vote by signature on a voter affidavit.
Restoring your driver’s license after a felony conviction isn’t always directly related to the felony charge itself, but rather to other consequences or circumstances surrounding your individual case. Your driver’s license might be suspended or revoked due to criminal convictions, unpaid fines, or other court-ordered penalties. You must complete any court-ordered obligations, serve your sentence, and pay all fines and fees to apply for license reinstatement. Once you have met all your obligations, you can apply for a reinstatement of your driver’s license. You might have to pay a reinstatement fee.
Learn more about driver’s license reinstatement by visiting this resource.