***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:
-
Was discharged from parole or probation before July 1,
2019;
-
Is not serving a term of imprisonment on July 1, 2019;
and
- 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