Registering to Vote After a Felony Conviction
Florida voters approved Amendment 4 in the 2018 General Election, restoring voting rights for individuals with prior felony convictions who have completed their sentences, including prison or jail time, parole, probation, or other forms of supervision and payment of the total amount of all fines, fees, costs and restitution ordered as part of the felony sentence. The terms of the constitutional amendment, which went into effect in 2019, exclude anyone convicted of murder or a felony sex offense, unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore voting rights for those individuals. The eligibility requirements to restore voting rights are found in Florida law, section 4, Article VI, Florida Constitution, and section 98.0751, F.S.
Effective January 8, 2019, convicted felons who meet the requirements are eligible to register to vote as long as they have not been convicted of murder or a sexual offense and have completed all terms of their sentence, including:
- Prison or jail time;
- Parole, probation, or other forms of supervision; and
- Payment of the total amount of all fines, fees, costs, and restitution ordered as part of the felony sentence.
- A person has the option to petition a court to terminate, upon consent of the person or entity owed, a financial obligation (i.e., fine, fee, cost, and restitution), or convert such obligation to community service (section 98.0751(2)(a)5.e., Fla. Stat.). If converted, the terms of the sentence are deemed complete when the person completes the community service.
How do I register to vote?
You may apply for voter registration by completing a Florida Voter Registration Application and submitting it to the Supervisor of Elections office. You can also submit an online application at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or register to vote at the Tax Collector’s office while getting a driver license or identification card. Applications are also available at public assistance offices, centers for independent living, offices serving persons with disabilities, public libraries and armed forces recruitment offices.
How do I find out if I am eligible to vote?
Individuals who have been convicted of a felony and are unsure if their sentences have been completed may find information on the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in the county where they were sentenced, or by contacting the Florida Department of Corrections where they were incarcerated and/or supervised. When registering to vote, individuals must complete a voter registration application, which includes an affirmation that if a person has been convicted of a felony, his or her right to vote has been restored.
More information can be found at the Florida Division of Elections website.
Resources to help confirm sentence completion obligations:
Where to Submit a Request for an Advisory Opinion:
A request is to be submitted to [email protected], or mailed to:
Florida Department of State
Office of General Counsel
R. A. Gray Building
500 South Bronough Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
Information About Restoring Rights
Agencies involved in the clemency process can be contacted as follows:
Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 637-5413
Web site: www.brevardclerk.us
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
PO Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302
(877) 822-1991 (toll free) or (850) 410-7000
Web site: www.fdle.state.fl.us
Voter information - felony convictions: www.fdle.state.fl.us/Voter-Information/Felony-Convictions
Office of Executive Clemency – Commission on Offender Review
4070 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2450
(850) 922-0000
Web site: www.fcor.state.fl.us
Request to restore civil rights: fcor.state.fl.us/clemency/apply-for-restoration-of-civil-rights-rcr-pardon-firearm-authority-other-forms-of-clemency
Inquiries on civil rights status and certificates for those whose rights have been restored: [email protected]