Maine

Vermont

VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON:

District of Columbia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Massachusetts: Until 2000, inmates were allowed to vote. Voters passed a constitutional amendment that instead allows voting rights to be restored after release from prison.

Michigan

Montana

New Hampshire

North Dakota

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Dakota

Utah

VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON AND COMPLETION OF PAROLE:

California

Colorado

Connecticut: In 2001, then-Gov. John Rowland signed into law a bill extending voting rights to felons on probation.

New York

VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED AFTER COMPLETION OF PROBATION, PRISON, AND PAROLE:

Alaska

Arkansas

Georgia

Idaho

Kansas: In 2002, the Legislature added probationers to the category of felons excluded from having voting rights restored.

Louisiana

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska: In March 2005, the Legislature repealed the lifetime ban on all felons and replaced it with a two-year post-sentence ban. Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed the bill but was overriden by the Legislature.

New Jersey

New Mexico: In 2001, the Legislature adopted a bill repealing the state's lifetime ban on ex-felon voting. In 2005, a bill was passed that requires the Department of Corrections to provide notification of completion of sentence to the Secretary of State's Office.

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Texas

West Virginia

VOTING RIGHTS FOR SOME FELONY CONVICTIONS ONLY RESTORED BY THE GOVERNMENT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS:

Arizona: Two-time ex-felons must wait two years before applying for a certificate of discharge. First time felons are automatically restored rights after completing prison, probation and parole.

Delaware: In June 2000, the General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to some ex-felons five years after the completion of their sentence.

Maryland: In 2002, the Legislature repealed its lifetime ban on two-time ex-felons, with the exception of felons with two violent convictions, and imposed a three-year waiting period after completion of sentence before rights can be restored.

   Mississippi

Nevada: In 2003, the state approved a provision to automatically restore voting rights for first-time non-violent felons immediately after completion of sentence.

Tennessee

Washington: In 2005, several bills were introduced on the issue. A bill that would restore voting rights to felons who completed their sentence but have not paid back outstanding debts never was brought to the floor for a vote. Another bill that would lower the interest rate on the debt owed by felons also failed. Several election reform-related bills signed into law include provisions that requires those convicted of felonies to be notified of their loss of rights and how to regain them, and requires the Department of Corrections to provide notification of completion of sentence to the Secretary Of State's Office.

Wyoming: In 2003, Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed into law a bill allowing people convicted of a non-violent first-time felony to apply for restoration of voting rights five years after completion of sentence.

VOTING RIGHTS DENIED TO ALL WITH FELONY CONVICTIONS, UNLESS GOVERNMENT APPROVES INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS RESTORATION:

Alabama: In 2003, Gov. Bob Riley signed into law a bill that permits most felons to apply for a certificate of eligibility to register to vote after completing their sentence

Florida

Iowa: On June 17, 2005, Gov. Tom Vilsack said that on July 4, he would sign an order restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who have served their sentences.

Kentucky: In 2001, The Legislature passed a bill that requires the Department of Corrections to inform and aid eligible offenders in completing the restoration process to regain their voting rights.

Virginia: Felons convicted of non-violent offenses can apply for the restoration of their voting rights after three years; felons convicted of violent offenses must wait five years.

Source: Right to Vote, The Sentencing Project