Probation Voting Rights
 
If you have a current or prior felony conviction, the guidelines and links below will help you determine whether you are eligible to vote or can register to vote in California.

You can register to vote as well as vote if you are:
  • A citizen of the United States of America
  • A resident of California
  • At least 18 years of age or older on or before election day
  • Not currently in state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony
  • Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

Persons with a prior felony conviction who can register to vote:

  • In local detention facility:
    • Serving a misdemeanor sentence (a misdemeanor never affects your right to vote)
    • Because jail time is a condition of probation (misdemeanor or felony)
    • Serving a felony jail sentence
    • Awaiting trial
  • On parole
  • On probation
  • On mandatory supervision
  • On post-release community supervision
  • On federal supervised release
  • A person with a juvenile wardship adjudication

Persons with a current felony conviction who cannot register and vote:

Currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony in:

  • State prison
  • Federal prison
  • A local detention facility

Once you have finished serving your term, your right to vote is restored.  However, you must register online at California Online Voter Registration or by obtaining a voter registration card which can be obtained at USA.gov.


For more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons with a Prior Felony Conviction on the California Secretary of State’s website.