RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN NEVADA


***Please note that the law regarding the restoration of voting rights for individuals with a felony conviction has recently changed.  Please continue reading for information regarding the new law.***

Restoration of Voting Rights

Under Assembly Bill 431, passed in 2019, any Nevada resident who is convicted of a felony is immediately restored the right to vote upon the individual’s release from prison.  There is no waiting period or action required by the individual.  The restoration of voting rights is automatic and immediate upon the individual’s release from prison, regardless of the category of felony committed or whether the individual is still on either parole or probation.

Individuals who have had their voting rights restored must meet all the other eligibility requirements in order to register to vote.  In order to be eligible to register to vote in Nevada, an individual must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen;
  • Be at least 18 years old by the date of the next election (or at least 17 years old if preregistering to vote);
  • Have continuously resided in Nevada and the county for at least 30 days before the next election; and
  • Have continuously resided in the precinct for at least 10 days before the next election.

Any individual who has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a term of imprisonment cannot register to vote or otherwise participate in the voting process while the individual is in prison.

Re-registration after Cancelation

If an individual’s voter registration was canceled due to a felony conviction, the individual may re-register to vote upon the individual’s release from prison.  The individual is not required to provide any documentation or other evidence at the time of re-registration to prove that the individual’s voting rights have been restored.

Felony Convictions in Other States or In Federal Court

Under Assembly Bill 431, which took effect on July 1, 2019, the restoration of voting rights for Nevada residents applies automatically upon the individual’s release from prison.  It does not matter if the individual was convicted of a felony in another state or in a federal court.  The automatic restoration of voting rights applies in all cases upon the individual’s release from prison.

Eligibility Status for Individuals with Prior Felony Convictions

Any Nevada resident who:

  1. Was discharged from parole or probation before July 1, 2019;
  2. Is not serving a term of imprisonment on July 1, 2019; and
  3. Has not already had his or her right to voter restored

Is immediately restored the right to vote as of July 1, 2019.  These individuals are eligible to register to vote using any of the currently available voter registration methods.

How to Register to Vote

Please view the Secretary of State’s Registering to Vote webpage to learn about the many convenient options for registering to vote in Nevada.

Source: Nevada Secretary of State