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Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States

Changes and Expansions in Voting Rights

Breaking News: States Amend Laws Affecting Voting Rights for Individuals with Felony Convictions

According to recent data, nearly all individuals in the United States who have been convicted of a felony temporarily lose their voting rights. States have the authority to establish guidelines regarding the impact of felony convictions on voting rights.

However, as of April 2024, the states of Maine, Vermont, and Washington D.C. have granted individuals with felony convictions the right to vote while they are incarcerated.

Between 2016 and 2020, at least 13 states expanded voting rights for persons convicted of felonies. These changes have resulted in millions of previously ineligible individuals regaining their voting privileges.

It is estimated that approximately 2% of the voting-age population in the United States will remain ineligible to vote due to felony convictions.

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