Can Felons Vote in Connecticut?
Yes, you can vote in Connecticut with a felony conviction as long as you are not currently incarcerated. Since 2021 (Public Act 21-2), you can vote while on parole or probation. The one exception is if you were convicted of a felony violation of Connecticut election laws (Title 9) — in that case, you must also complete probation. Register online at voterregistration.ct.gov or at your town clerk's office.
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Overview
Connecticut automatically restores voting rights when a person is released from incarceration for a felony conviction. Since Public Act 21-2 passed in June 2021, people on parole can vote — a significant expansion that previously required parole completion. People on probation have been able to vote in Connecticut since 2001. The one key exception is for election-related felonies: people convicted of violating Connecticut's election statutes (Title 9) must complete both incarceration and probation before their voting rights are restored. There is no fee to register, and Connecticut offers online voter registration, Election Day Registration, and automatic voter registration through the DMV.
Quick Answer
Yes, you can vote in Connecticut with a felony conviction as long as you are not currently incarcerated. Since 2021 (Public Act 21-2), you can vote while on parole or probation. The one exception is if you were convicted of a felony violation of Connecticut election laws (Title 9) — in that case, you must also complete probation. Register online at voterregistration.ct.gov or at your town clerk's office.
Can vote
- ✓Released from incarceration for a felony conviction (rights restored automatically upon release)
- ✓On parole for a non-election felony (since Public Act 21-2, effective 2021)
- ✓On probation for a non-election felony
- ✓On special parole or transitional supervision
- ✓Completed full sentence (incarceration, parole, and probation)
- ✓Convicted of a misdemeanor only (misdemeanors do not affect voting rights)
- ✓In a correctional facility awaiting trial (pretrial detention)
- ✓Felony conviction has been pardoned
- ✓Previously registered as an elector in the same municipality — rights automatically restored upon release
Cannot vote
- ✗Currently incarcerated in a state or federal prison for a felony conviction
- ✗Currently incarcerated in a correctional facility serving a felony sentence
- ✗Convicted of a felony violation of Connecticut election statutes (Title 9) and have not completed both incarceration and probation
- ✗Found mentally incompetent to vote by a probate court
Step-by-Step Process
Confirm your eligibility
You can vote if you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. You can vote while on parole or probation for non-election felonies. If you were convicted of violating Connecticut election laws (Title 9), you must have completed both incarceration and probation. Check your voter registration status at voterregistration.ct.gov or contact your town registrar of voters.
Determine if your registration was preserved or needs renewal
Under Connecticut law, if you were a registered voter (elector) in the same municipality where you now reside, your electoral privileges are automatically restored upon release. Your town registrar should restore your name to the voter rolls. If you were not previously registered, or moved to a different town, you must register as a new voter.
Register or re-register to vote
Register online at voterregistration.ct.gov, by mail using a voter registration form, in person at your town clerk's or registrar of voters' office, or at the DMV (Connecticut offers automatic voter registration through the DMV). You will need your Connecticut driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your SSN.
Meet the registration deadline
Connecticut requires voter registration at least 7 days before an election for mail and online registration. However, Connecticut offers Election Day Registration (EDR) — you can register and vote on Election Day at a designated EDR location in your town. Bring proof of identity and residency.
Receive your voter notification
After your registration is processed, your town registrar of voters will add you to the voter rolls. You will receive information about your polling place and upcoming elections. Contact your town clerk's office if you do not receive confirmation within a few weeks.
Vote on Election Day, during early voting, or by absentee ballot
Vote in person at your assigned polling place on Election Day. Connecticut now offers early voting during the period before Election Day. You may also request an absentee ballot if you will be absent from your town on Election Day, have an illness or disability, are on active military duty, or have religious beliefs that prevent you from voting in person.
Key Laws
| Law | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Constitution, Article Sixth, Section 3 | 1818 (amended various) | Provides that the General Assembly shall have the power to restore the rights of citizens convicted of crimes. This constitutional provision is the basis for Connecticut's statutory framework governing voting rights loss and restoration for felony convictions. |
| Connecticut General Statutes § 9-46a — Restoration of Electoral Privileges | Amended 2001, 2021 | The primary statute governing restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction. Provides for automatic restoration upon release from confinement for non-election felonies, and upon completion of probation for election-related felonies. Amended by Public Act 21-2 to include people on parole. |
| Public Act 01-166 — Probation Voting Rights Restoration | 2001 | Restored voting rights to people on probation for felony convictions in Connecticut. Prior to this law, people had to complete both incarceration and probation before they could vote. This was Connecticut's first major expansion of felony voting rights. |
| Public Act 21-2 — Parole Voting Rights Restoration | 2021 | Restored voting rights to people on parole for non-election felony convictions. Before this law, Connecticut was the only state in New England that prohibited people on parole from voting. The law made approximately 4,000 additional residents eligible to vote. It maintained the exception for people convicted of felony election offenses under Title 9. |
| Connecticut General Statutes Title 9 — Election Offenses | Various | Defines election-related criminal offenses in Connecticut. People convicted of a felony under Title 9 (election fraud, bribery, intimidation of voters, etc.) face a stricter voting rights restoration requirement: they must complete both incarceration and probation before their voting rights are restored, unlike non-election felonies. |
Edge Cases
What happens if I was convicted of an election-related felony under Title 9?
If you were convicted of a felony violation of Connecticut's election statutes (Title 9), your voting rights are not restored upon release from incarceration alone. You must complete both your prison sentence and any period of probation before your voting rights are restored. This is the only type of felony in Connecticut where parole/probation completion is still required for voting.
Are my voting rights automatically restored, or do I need to take action?
For people who were already registered as electors in the same municipality before their conviction, voting rights are supposed to be automatically restored upon release. The Secretary of the State sends lists of released individuals to town registrars. However, in practice, you should verify your status at voterregistration.ct.gov and may need to re-register if your name was removed from the rolls.
Can I vote if I have a federal felony conviction?
Yes, as long as you are not currently incarcerated. Connecticut applies the same restoration rules regardless of whether the felony conviction was in state or federal court. Once released from federal prison, you can vote while on federal supervised release or probation.
Can I vote if I was convicted of a felony in another state but now live in Connecticut?
Yes, as long as you are not currently incarcerated for that felony. Connecticut applies its own voting rights rules to residents regardless of where the conviction occurred. If you are not incarcerated and are a Connecticut resident, you can register and vote.
I was on parole before Public Act 21-2 passed in 2021. Were my rights restored retroactively?
Yes. Public Act 21-2 applied to everyone on parole at the time it took effect, not just those paroled after the law passed. If you were on parole for a non-election felony when the law took effect in 2021, your voting rights were immediately restored and you became eligible to register.
Can I vote if I am on special parole or transitional supervision?
Yes. Since Public Act 21-2 restored voting rights to people on parole generally, this includes special parole and transitional supervision. As long as you are not currently incarcerated and your conviction was not an election-related felony, you can vote.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I vote in Connecticut if I have a felony conviction?
- Yes, as long as you are not currently incarcerated. Since Public Act 21-2 (2021), you can vote while on parole or probation for non-election felonies. The only exception is for people convicted of felony election offenses under Title 9, who must complete probation before voting. There is no fee, no application, and no waiting period after release.
- How do I register to vote after a felony conviction in Connecticut?
- Register online at voterregistration.ct.gov, by mail, in person at your town clerk's or registrar of voters' office, or through the DMV. You will need your Connecticut driver's license or state ID number (or the last four digits of your SSN). If you were previously registered in the same town, your registration may be automatically restored.
- What changed with Public Act 21-2 in 2021?
- Before 2021, people on parole for felony convictions could not vote in Connecticut. Public Act 21-2 restored voting rights to people upon release from incarceration — even if still on parole. This change made approximately 4,000 additional Connecticut residents eligible to vote. Previously, Connecticut was the last New England state to bar people on parole from voting.
- What is the election-crime exception to voting rights restoration?
- If you were convicted of a felony violation of Connecticut's election statutes (Title 9), such as election fraud, voter bribery, or intimidation, your voting rights are not restored simply upon release. You must also complete probation before you can vote. This exception does not apply to any other type of felony conviction.
- Do I need to pay fines or restitution before I can vote?
- No. Connecticut does not require payment of fines, fees, or restitution as a condition of voting. Your voting eligibility depends only on whether you are currently incarcerated and, for election crimes, whether you have completed probation.
- Does Connecticut offer Election Day Registration?
- Yes. Connecticut offers Election Day Registration (EDR). If you miss the 7-day pre-election registration deadline, you can register and vote on Election Day at a designated EDR location in your town. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of residency (such as a utility bill or government mail showing your name and address).
- Can I vote by absentee ballot in Connecticut?
- Yes, if you qualify. Connecticut allows absentee voting if you will be absent from your town during voting hours, have an illness or physical disability, are on active military duty, or have religious beliefs that prevent voting in person. Request an absentee ballot from your town clerk's office. Check portal.ct.gov for specific deadlines.
- Will my town registrar know that my rights have been restored?
- The Secretary of the State sends lists of people released from incarceration to town registrars so they can restore voter rolls. However, this process is not always immediate. You should proactively check your voter registration status at voterregistration.ct.gov and contact your town registrar if your registration has not been restored.
- Can I vote while on probation in Connecticut?
- Yes, for non-election felonies. Connecticut has allowed people on probation to vote since 2001 (Public Act 01-166). If your conviction was for a felony violation of election statutes (Title 9), you must complete probation before you can vote.
- Who can I contact for help with voter registration in Connecticut?
- Contact the Connecticut Secretary of the State's Elections Division at (860) 509-6100 or visit portal.ct.gov/SOTS. You can also contact your town registrar of voters or town clerk's office. The ACLU of Connecticut (acluct.org) provides know-your-rights information about voting on parole.
Take Action — Direct Links
- Connecticut Secretary of the State — Voting Eligibility
Official state page explaining who can and cannot vote in Connecticut, including information about voting rights after a felony conviction.
- Connecticut Online Voter Registration
Connecticut's official online voter registration portal. Register to vote, check your registration status, and find your polling place.
- ACLU of Connecticut — Know Your Rights: Voting on Parole
Know-your-rights guide explaining voting eligibility for people on parole in Connecticut after Public Act 21-2.
- Connecticut Secretary of the State — The Ultimate Freedom: The Right To Vote (PDF)
Official printable guide from the Connecticut Secretary of the State explaining voting rights restoration for people with felony convictions.
- Connecticut General Assembly — Voting Rights After Felony Conviction (Issue Brief, PDF)
Legislative research brief from the Connecticut General Assembly summarizing the law on voting rights after a felony conviction, including the election-crime exception and the 2021 parole voting expansion.
- Campaign Legal Center — Restore Your Vote (Connecticut)
Interactive tool from the Campaign Legal Center that walks you through Connecticut's specific rules and helps determine if you are eligible to register to vote.
- Brennan Center for Justice — Voting Rights Restoration in Connecticut
Overview of Connecticut's voting rights restoration efforts, including the history of legislative changes and the 2021 parole voting expansion.
Video Guides
Sources
- Connecticut Secretary of the State — Voting Eligibility
- Connecticut General Statutes § 9-46a — Restoration of Electoral Privileges
- Connecticut General Assembly — Issue Brief 2021-R-0188: Voting Rights After Felony Conviction
- United Way of Connecticut 211 — Voting Rights of Convicted Felons in Connecticut
- ACLU of Connecticut — Know Your Rights: Voting on Parole
- Brennan Center for Justice — Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in Connecticut
- Stateline — Connecticut Restores Voting Rights to People with Felony Convictions on Parole
- The Sentencing Project — Connecticut Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions
- US Vote Foundation — Connecticut Voting Rights Restoration
- NCSL — Felon Voting Rights by State