Felons and Voting Rights
When the right to vote is restored
- If you were convicted of a felony in a Washington State court, your right to vote is restored automatically once you are no longer under the authority of DOC (in prison or on community custody). If you have
questions about your status with DOC, call at (800) 430-9674. - If you were convicted of a felony in another state or in federal court, your right to vote is restored automatically as long as you are not currently incarcerated for that felony.
- You do not lose the right to vote for a misdemeanor conviction or a conviction in juvenile court.
- You do not need a certificate of discharge (COD) to have your voting rights restored.
Fines, restitution, or other legal financial obligations (LFOs)
You are not required to completely pay off your fines, restitution, or other legal financial obligations (LFOs) before you register to vote. However, your voting rights can be revoked if the sentencing court determines that you have failed to comply with the terms of your legal financial obligations.
Under Department of Corrections Authority
Only people in jail, prison, or on community custody under Department of Corrections (DOC) authority for a felony conviction are not eligible to vote. If you are unsure if you are under the DOC authority for a Washington State
felony conviction, call at (800) 430-9674.
Registering to Vote
Once your right to vote is restored, you must register to vote if you want to vote. If you were previously registered to vote, you must re-register to vote. You can register online with MyVote, printing and returning a form, in person at your county elections department or request a voter registration form be mailed to you. You do not need a certificate of discharge (COD) to register to vote.
You must also be a citizen of the United States, legal resident of Washington State, 18 years old, not under the authority of the DOC, and not disqualified due to a court order. Visit the Voter Eligibility page, for more information.