The United States has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the industrialized world. Each state has laws that delineate who is eligible to vote, and almost all states restrict voting for those who are currently incarcerated for a felony offense—although a few states allow citizens to vote while incarcerated. States’ policies diverge significantly on the question of when and how formerly incarcerated people can have their voting rights restored. In some states, certain felony convictions result in losing voting rights for life. Other states require steps such as full payment of fines and fees related to criminal convictions but often rely on systems that are very difficult to navigate and prevent indigent individuals from regaining their voting rights.
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Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated People
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