When are voting rights restored in Minnesota?

Minnesota falls under the "Restored on release from prison" category. Voting rights are automatically restored upon release from incarceration. You can vote while on probation, parole, or supervised release.

How do I re-register to vote in Minnesota?

Register online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov, on Election Day, or at your county elections office.

Can I vote in Minnesota with a felony conviction?

Yes — as of June 1, 2023, if you have a felony conviction and are not currently incarcerated for that felony, you can vote in Minnesota. This includes people on probation, parole, and supervised release. The Restore the Vote Act (HF 28) eliminated the old requirement to complete your entire sentence before voting. Approximately 55,000 Minnesotans became immediately eligible when the law took effect.

Do I need to apply to have my voting rights restored?

No. Restoration is automatic under Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a. There is no application, petition, or court hearing required. If you are not currently incarcerated for a felony, you have the right to vote. You simply need to register to vote (or confirm your registration is active) and cast your ballot.

How do I register to vote in Minnesota after a felony conviction?

Register online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov using your Minnesota driver's license or state ID number, or register by mail using a printable form from the Secretary of State's website. You can also register in person at your county elections office or on Election Day at your polling place — Minnesota allows same-day registration. When you register, you certify that you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction.

What changed with the Restore the Vote Act in 2023?

Before the Restore the Vote Act, people with felony convictions in Minnesota could not vote until they completed their entire sentence, including probation, parole, supervised release, and — in practice — payment of all fines and restitution. The new law changed the trigger from 'completion of sentence' to 'release from incarceration.' This means anyone living in the community — even while still on probation or parole — can now vote. The law took effect June 1, 2023, and restored voting rights to about 55,000 Minnesotans.

Is the Restore the Vote Act still in effect? Was it challenged?

Yes, it is fully in effect. The Minnesota Voters Alliance challenged the law in court, arguing that the state constitution required completion of an entire sentence before voting rights could be restored. A district court rejected the challenge in December 2023, and the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the case on August 7, 2024, ruling that the challengers lacked standing. The law has been in continuous effect since June 1, 2023.

Do I need to pay my fines or restitution before I can vote?

No. Minnesota does not require payment of fines, fees, or restitution as a condition for voting. The only requirement is that you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. Outstanding financial obligations have no effect on your voting eligibility.

Does a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor conviction affect my right to vote?

No. Only felony convictions affect voting rights in Minnesota, and only during the period of incarceration for that felony. Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions — no matter how serious — have never resulted in the loss of voting rights in Minnesota. You can vote even while serving a jail sentence for a misdemeanor.

Can I vote on Election Day if I forgot to register?

Yes. Minnesota has same-day voter registration (also called Election Day Registration). You can register and vote at your polling place on Election Day. Bring a valid Minnesota driver's license or state ID, or another accepted form of identification with proof of residence. If you do not have ID, a registered voter from your precinct can vouch for your identity and residence.

What if a poll worker challenges my right to vote because of my felony record?

Under Minnesota law, if you are not currently incarcerated for a felony, you have the legal right to vote. If your eligibility is questioned at the polls, ask to speak with the head election judge. You may cast a provisional ballot if there is a dispute. You can also call the Minnesota Secretary of State's Election Day hotline at 1-877-600-VOTE (8683) for immediate assistance. It is illegal for anyone to intimidate or prevent you from voting.

Will correctional staff notify me about my voting rights when I am released?

Yes. The Restore the Vote Act requires correctional facilities to provide notice of voting-rights restoration and voter registration applications to individuals being released from incarceration for a felony. Probation officers and supervised release agents must also provide this notice and voter registration materials to everyone under their supervision for a felony conviction.

How many people were affected by the Restore the Vote Act?

Approximately 55,000 Minnesotans became immediately eligible to vote when the law took effect on June 1, 2023. Before the law, felony disenfranchisement in Minnesota disproportionately affected communities of color — nearly 4.5% of Black adults and more than 8% of Native American adults in the state were denied the right to vote due to a felony conviction, even while living in the community on supervision.

Can Felons Vote in Minnesota?

Restored on release from prison

Yes — if you have a felony conviction in Minnesota and you are not currently in prison or jail for that felony, you can vote. You can vote while on probation, parole, or supervised release. You do not need to pay fines or restitution first. Register at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov, at your county elections office, or on Election Day at your polling place.

Last updated: 2026-03-21

Overview

Since June 1, 2023, Minnesota automatically restores the right to vote to anyone with a felony conviction who is not currently incarcerated for that offense. The Restore the Vote Act (HF 28, codified at Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a) eliminated the previous requirement that a person complete all supervision — including probation, parole, and supervised release — before regaining the right to vote. Under the current law, approximately 55,000 Minnesotans on probation, parole, or supervised release regained immediate voting eligibility. The law applies to both state and federal felony convictions. The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law on August 7, 2024, dismissing a challenge brought by the Minnesota Voters Alliance. Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions have never affected voting rights in Minnesota.

Quick Answer

Can vote

✓You completed your felony sentence entirely (incarceration, probation, parole — all done)
✓You are currently on probation for a felony conviction but are not incarcerated
✓You are currently on parole or supervised release for a felony conviction
✓You are on work release under Minn. Stat. § 241.26 or § 244.065 (explicitly not considered 'incarcerated')
✓You are on release under Minn. Stat. § 631.425 (sentence-to-service or similar programs)
✓You were convicted of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor — these never affect voting rights
✓You are in jail awaiting trial (pretrial detention) and have not been convicted of a felony
✓You were convicted of a federal felony and are not currently incarcerated
✓You have outstanding fines, fees, or restitution — unpaid financial obligations do not block your right to vote

Cannot vote

✗You are currently incarcerated in a state prison for a felony conviction
✗You are currently incarcerated in a county jail serving a felony sentence
✗You are currently incarcerated in a federal prison for a felony conviction
✗You have been civilly committed as a sexual predator and are held in a secure treatment facility (voting eligibility depends on individual circumstances; consult the Secretary of State's office)

Step-by-Step Process

Confirm you are not currently incarcerated for a felony

Under Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a, your voting rights are restored during any period when you are not incarcerated for a felony offense. If you are living in the community — on probation, parole, supervised release, work release, or fully discharged — you are eligible to vote. No paperwork or application is needed to 'restore' your rights; they are automatic.

Gather your identification

To register to vote in Minnesota, you need one of the following: a Minnesota driver's license or state ID, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or a valid photo ID along with a document showing your current address (utility bill, bank statement, government document). If you lack ID, a registered voter from your precinct can vouch for you on Election Day.

Register to vote

Register online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov, by mail using a printable voter registration form from the Secretary of State's website, in person at your county elections office, or on Election Day at your polling place (Minnesota allows same-day voter registration). When registering, you will certify that you are 'not currently incarcerated for a conviction of a felony offense.' You do not need to disclose your criminal history beyond this certification.

Find your polling place

Use the Minnesota Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder at pollfinder.sos.mn.gov to locate your voting location. Your polling place is determined by your current residential address. If you recently moved, update your registration with your new address before or on Election Day.

Vote on Election Day or by absentee ballot

You can vote in person on Election Day, during the early voting period (46 days before the election in Minnesota), or by absentee ballot. To vote absentee, request a ballot at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov or from your county elections office. Absentee ballots must be received by Election Day.

Know your rights at the polls

No poll worker or election judge may turn you away because of a past felony conviction if you are not currently incarcerated. If your eligibility is challenged, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot and the right to contact the Secretary of State's Election Day hotline at 1-877-600-VOTE (8683) for assistance. It is illegal for anyone to intimidate or threaten you to prevent you from voting.

Key Laws

Law	Year	Description
Restore the Vote Act (HF 28 / SF 26)	2023	Signed by Governor Tim Walz on March 3, 2023, effective June 1, 2023. Amends Minn. Stat. § 201.014 to add subdivision 2a, which automatically restores voting rights to anyone with a felony conviction who is not currently incarcerated for that offense. Eliminates the prior requirement to complete probation, parole, and supervised release before voting. Also requires correctional facilities and probation officers to provide voting-rights notices and registration forms to individuals being released or under supervision. Restored voting rights to approximately 55,000 Minnesotans. Codified as 2023 Session Laws, Chapter 12.
Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Schroeder (MN Supreme Court, 2024)	2024	On August 7, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a challenge to the Restore the Vote Act brought by the Minnesota Voters Alliance. The court held that the challengers — none of whom had their voting rights affected by the law — lacked standing to sue. The ruling ensured the Restore the Vote Act remains the law. The ACLU intervened on behalf of Jennifer Schroeder and Elizer Darris, two formerly incarcerated Minnesotans who had fought for years to regain the right to vote.
Schroeder v. Simon (MN Supreme Court, 2023)	2023	In February 2023, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the state constitution did not automatically restore voting rights to people released from incarceration but still on supervision, and that the legislature had broad authority to set the terms for restoration. This ruling prompted the legislature to pass the Restore the Vote Act just weeks later, exercising the authority the court confirmed it held.
Minn. Stat. § 609.165 (prior law, now superseded for voting)	1963	Before the Restore the Vote Act, this statute governed restoration of civil rights for felony offenders. It provided that a person's civil rights — including voting — were restored only upon 'discharge' of a sentence, which meant completion of incarceration, probation, parole, and supervised release. The Restore the Vote Act effectively superseded this provision for voting rights specifically, making release from incarceration the sole trigger.
Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a (current statute)	2023	The operative statute as amended by the Restore the Vote Act. Provides: 'An individual who is ineligible to vote as a result of a felony conviction has the civil right to vote restored during any period when the individual is not incarcerated for the offense.' Also specifies that individuals on work release (§ 241.26, § 244.065) or release under § 631.425 are not considered incarcerated.

Edge Cases

Can I vote if I am on work release?

Yes. Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a explicitly states that a person on work release under § 241.26 or § 244.065, or released under § 631.425, is NOT considered 'incarcerated' for voting purposes. You are eligible to register and vote.

Can I vote if I am in a halfway house or residential reentry center?

Generally yes, if you are not being held in a facility as part of a felony sentence of incarceration. If you are in a community residential facility (halfway house) as a condition of probation or supervised release, you are not 'incarcerated' and can vote. If you are in a federal residential reentry center, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota advises consulting your probation officer to confirm whether you are considered incarcerated. In most cases, residents of halfway houses are eligible to vote.

Can I vote if I have a federal felony conviction?

Yes. Minnesota's Restore the Vote Act applies to all felony convictions, including federal felonies. Voting rights are governed by state law, and Minnesota's statute uses the general term 'felony conviction' without distinguishing between state and federal offenses. The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota confirms on its website that Minnesota's 2023 law restores voting rights upon release from incarceration for federal felony convictions as well.

What happens if I am re-incarcerated after registering to vote?

If you are returned to prison or jail to serve time for a felony offense (for example, due to a revocation of supervised release), your voting rights are suspended for the duration of that incarceration. Once you are released again, your rights are automatically restored — no new application is needed. Your voter registration may be canceled while you are incarcerated, so you will need to re-register after release.

Can I vote if I owe fines, fees, or restitution?

Yes. Minnesota does not condition voting rights on payment of fines, fees, or restitution. Unlike some other states, there is no financial obligation requirement. As long as you are not currently incarcerated for the felony, you can vote regardless of outstanding financial obligations.

Can I vote if I am in jail awaiting trial but have not been convicted?

Yes. Pretrial detainees who have not been convicted of a felony retain their full voting rights. You can register to vote and request an absentee ballot. If you are in jail for a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor conviction, you can also vote — only felony incarceration affects voting rights.

Can I vote if I am on electronic home monitoring (EHM)?

Yes. Electronic home monitoring is a condition of supervised release or probation, not incarceration. You are living in the community and are therefore eligible to vote under the Restore the Vote Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I vote in Minnesota with a felony conviction?: Yes — as of June 1, 2023, if you have a felony conviction and are not currently incarcerated for that felony, you can vote in Minnesota. This includes people on probation, parole, and supervised release. The Restore the Vote Act (HF 28) eliminated the old requirement to complete your entire sentence before voting. Approximately 55,000 Minnesotans became immediately eligible when the law took effect.
Do I need to apply to have my voting rights restored?: No. Restoration is automatic under Minn. Stat. § 201.014, subd. 2a. There is no application, petition, or court hearing required. If you are not currently incarcerated for a felony, you have the right to vote. You simply need to register to vote (or confirm your registration is active) and cast your ballot.
How do I register to vote in Minnesota after a felony conviction?: Register online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov using your Minnesota driver's license or state ID number, or register by mail using a printable form from the Secretary of State's website. You can also register in person at your county elections office or on Election Day at your polling place — Minnesota allows same-day registration. When you register, you certify that you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction.
What changed with the Restore the Vote Act in 2023?: Before the Restore the Vote Act, people with felony convictions in Minnesota could not vote until they completed their entire sentence, including probation, parole, supervised release, and — in practice — payment of all fines and restitution. The new law changed the trigger from 'completion of sentence' to 'release from incarceration.' This means anyone living in the community — even while still on probation or parole — can now vote. The law took effect June 1, 2023, and restored voting rights to about 55,000 Minnesotans.
Is the Restore the Vote Act still in effect? Was it challenged?: Yes, it is fully in effect. The Minnesota Voters Alliance challenged the law in court, arguing that the state constitution required completion of an entire sentence before voting rights could be restored. A district court rejected the challenge in December 2023, and the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the case on August 7, 2024, ruling that the challengers lacked standing. The law has been in continuous effect since June 1, 2023.
Do I need to pay my fines or restitution before I can vote?: No. Minnesota does not require payment of fines, fees, or restitution as a condition for voting. The only requirement is that you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. Outstanding financial obligations have no effect on your voting eligibility.
Does a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor conviction affect my right to vote?: No. Only felony convictions affect voting rights in Minnesota, and only during the period of incarceration for that felony. Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions — no matter how serious — have never resulted in the loss of voting rights in Minnesota. You can vote even while serving a jail sentence for a misdemeanor.
Can I vote on Election Day if I forgot to register?: Yes. Minnesota has same-day voter registration (also called Election Day Registration). You can register and vote at your polling place on Election Day. Bring a valid Minnesota driver's license or state ID, or another accepted form of identification with proof of residence. If you do not have ID, a registered voter from your precinct can vouch for your identity and residence.
What if a poll worker challenges my right to vote because of my felony record?: Under Minnesota law, if you are not currently incarcerated for a felony, you have the legal right to vote. If your eligibility is questioned at the polls, ask to speak with the head election judge. You may cast a provisional ballot if there is a dispute. You can also call the Minnesota Secretary of State's Election Day hotline at 1-877-600-VOTE (8683) for immediate assistance. It is illegal for anyone to intimidate or prevent you from voting.
Will correctional staff notify me about my voting rights when I am released?: Yes. The Restore the Vote Act requires correctional facilities to provide notice of voting-rights restoration and voter registration applications to individuals being released from incarceration for a felony. Probation officers and supervised release agents must also provide this notice and voter registration materials to everyone under their supervision for a felony conviction.
How many people were affected by the Restore the Vote Act?: Approximately 55,000 Minnesotans became immediately eligible to vote when the law took effect on June 1, 2023. Before the law, felony disenfranchisement in Minnesota disproportionately affected communities of color — nearly 4.5% of Black adults and more than 8% of Native American adults in the state were denied the right to vote due to a felony conviction, even while living in the community on supervision.

Take Action — Direct Links

MN Secretary of State — Voting with a Criminal Record
Official state resource explaining voting eligibility for people with criminal records, including detailed scenarios for felony, misdemeanor, and pretrial situations.
Register to Vote Online (MNVotes)
Minnesota's official online voter registration portal. Register or update your registration using your driver's license or state ID number.
MN Secretary of State — Polling Place Finder
Find your polling place by entering your address. Also shows early voting locations and hours.
MN Attorney General — Voting Rights
Minnesota Attorney General's page on voting rights, including information about the Restore the Vote Act and protections against voter intimidation.
Restore the Vote MN (Advocacy Organization)
The advocacy coalition that led the campaign for the Restore the Vote Act. Provides community education, voter registration assistance, and know-your-rights resources.
ACLU of Minnesota — Reclaim the Vote
ACLU-MN campaign page with information about voting with a felony conviction, legal rights, and how to report problems at the polls.
Minn. Stat. § 201.014 — Full Statute Text
Official text of the Minnesota statute governing voter eligibility, including subdivision 2a (Restore the Vote Act provisions) from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
MN Secretary of State — Voting with a Criminal Record (PDF)
Printable one-page fact sheet from the Secretary of State explaining voting eligibility for people with criminal records. Useful for distribution by reentry organizations and correctional facilities.
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota — Restoration of Voting Rights
Federal court page confirming that Minnesota's 2023 law applies to federal felony convictions and explaining voting eligibility for people under federal supervision.

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Sources

Disclaimer: Source: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Cross-reference: Campaign Legal Center. This is informational only, not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Verify current rules with your state election office or consult a qualified attorney in Minnesota.

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