Can Felons Vote in New Jersey?
Yes, you can vote in New Jersey with a felony conviction as long as you are not currently incarcerated. Your voting rights are automatically restored upon release from prison — you can vote while on parole or probation. Register or re-register at voter.svrs.nj.gov or contact your county clerk's office.
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Overview
New Jersey automatically restores voting rights when a person is released from incarceration for a felony conviction. Since the passage of P.L. 2019, c.270 (effective March 17, 2020), people on parole and probation can vote. Prior to this law, New Jersey disenfranchised people with felony convictions throughout their entire sentence, including parole and probation. The 2019 law restored voting rights to approximately 80,000 New Jerseyans living in their communities. Under current law, the only people with felony convictions who cannot vote are those currently serving a sentence of incarceration in a state or federal prison or county jail.
Quick Answer
Yes, you can vote in New Jersey with a felony conviction as long as you are not currently incarcerated. Your voting rights are automatically restored upon release from prison — you can vote while on parole or probation. Register or re-register at voter.svrs.nj.gov or contact your county clerk's office.
Can vote
- ✓Released from state or federal prison (rights restored automatically upon release)
- ✓On parole (since P.L. 2019, c.270, effective March 2020)
- ✓On probation (since P.L. 2019, c.270, effective March 2020)
- ✓On community supervision of any kind
- ✓Conviction has been expunged
- ✓Received a pardon or had conviction set aside
- ✓In county jail awaiting trial (pretrial detention)
- ✓In county jail serving a sentence for a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor)
- ✓Sentence has been fully completed
- ✓Living in a halfway house or residential community release program
Cannot vote
- ✗Currently incarcerated in a New Jersey state prison for an indictable offense
- ✗Currently incarcerated in a federal prison for a felony conviction
- ✗Currently incarcerated in a county jail serving a sentence for an indictable offense
- ✗Found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (unrelated to felony status)
Step-by-Step Process
Confirm your eligibility
You can vote if you are not currently incarcerated for an indictable offense (felony). If you have been released — even if you are on parole, probation, or community supervision — you are eligible. Contact the NJ Division of Elections at 1-877-658-6837 (NJVOTER) or your county clerk's office if you are unsure.
Register or re-register to vote
Register online at voter.svrs.nj.gov (requires a NJ driver's license or ID number). You can also register by mail using a voter registration form available from your county clerk's office, or in person at your county clerk's office, motor vehicle agency, or many social service agencies. The NJ Department of Corrections provides registration assistance upon release.
Meet the registration deadline
Your voter registration must be received at least 21 days before Election Day. If you miss this deadline, you will not be able to vote in that particular election. Plan ahead and register well before the election.
Receive your sample ballot and voter information
After registering, your county clerk's office will send you a sample ballot before each election showing your polling place and the candidates and questions on the ballot. If you do not receive it, contact your county clerk.
Vote on Election Day, during early voting, or by mail
Vote in person at your assigned polling place on Election Day. New Jersey offers early voting (typically 10 days before Election Day). You can also request a vote-by-mail ballot from your county clerk's office — any registered voter can vote by mail in New Jersey without needing a reason.
Keep your registration current
Once registered, you stay registered unless you move, change your name, or are re-incarcerated for an indictable offense. If you move within New Jersey, update your registration with your new county clerk. Check your registration status at voter.svrs.nj.gov.
Key Laws
| Law | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NJSA 19:4-1 — Qualifications for Suffrage | Amended 2019 | The primary statute governing voter qualifications in New Jersey. As amended by P.L. 2019, c.270, it provides that a person is disqualified from voting only while 'serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this State or another state or of the United States.' This means voting rights are restored immediately upon release from incarceration. |
| P.L. 2019, c.270 (A5823/S4260) — Voting Rights Restoration | 2019 | Signed by Governor Phil Murphy on December 18, 2019, effective March 17, 2020. This law restored voting rights to people on parole and probation, creating a bright-line rule: you can vote if you are not currently incarcerated. It restored voting rights to approximately 80,000 New Jerseyans and required the Department of Corrections to provide voter registration assistance. |
| NJSA 19:4-1.1 — Legislative Findings on Voting Rights | 2019 | Accompanying legislative findings declaring that denying the right to vote to persons on parole or probation 'undermines the rehabilitative and reintegrative aims of the criminal justice system' and that civic participation supports successful reentry into society. |
| New Jersey Constitution, Article II, Section 1 | 1947 (amended) | The state constitution establishes voter qualifications and authorizes the legislature to define conditions under which people with felony convictions may vote. It delegates to the legislature (through NJSA Title 19) the power to set specific disenfranchisement rules. |
Edge Cases
Can I vote if I am on parole in New Jersey?
Yes. Since P.L. 2019, c.270 took effect in March 2020, all people on parole in New Jersey can vote. Your voting rights are automatically restored upon release from incarceration. You must register or re-register to vote.
Can I vote if I am living in a halfway house or residential community release program?
Yes. If you have been released from prison and are living in a halfway house, residential community release center, or transitional housing as a condition of your supervision, you are eligible to vote. You are not 'incarcerated' for purposes of the voting rights law. Register using the address of your halfway house or your most recent New Jersey residence.
Can I vote if I have a federal felony conviction but live in New Jersey?
Yes, as long as you are not currently incarcerated in a federal prison. New Jersey law restores voting rights based on whether you are currently incarcerated, regardless of whether the conviction was state or federal. Once released from federal prison, you can register to vote in New Jersey.
What is an 'indictable offense' in New Jersey?
New Jersey uses the term 'indictable offense' instead of 'felony.' An indictable offense is a crime that can be tried before a grand jury and carries a potential sentence of more than six months in prison. Disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses (New Jersey's equivalents of misdemeanors) do not affect your voting rights, even if you are incarcerated for them.
Do I need to pay fines or restitution before I can vote in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey does not require payment of fines, fees, or restitution as a condition of voting. Once you are released from incarceration, your right to vote is restored regardless of any outstanding financial obligations.
Can I vote from county jail in New Jersey if I am awaiting trial?
Yes. If you are in county jail awaiting trial (pretrial detention), you have not been convicted and retain the right to vote. You can register and request a vote-by-mail ballot. Contact the county clerk in the county where you are registered or were last registered.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I vote in New Jersey if I have a felony conviction?
- Yes, as long as you are not currently incarcerated for an indictable offense (felony). Your voting rights are automatically restored upon release from prison. You can vote while on parole, probation, or community supervision. There is no waiting period, no application, and no fees required.
- How do I register to vote after being released from prison in New Jersey?
- Register online at voter.svrs.nj.gov (requires a NJ driver's license or ID). You can also register at your county clerk's office, motor vehicle agency, or many social service agencies. The Department of Corrections provides voter registration forms and assistance upon release. Call 1-877-658-6837 (NJVOTER) for help.
- Do I need to pay any fines or fees before I can vote in New Jersey?
- No. New Jersey does not require payment of fines, fees, or restitution as a condition of voting. Once you are released from incarceration, your right to vote is restored regardless of any outstanding financial obligations.
- What changed about New Jersey's felon voting rights in 2019?
- In December 2019, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2019, c.270 into law. Before this, New Jersey disenfranchised people with felony convictions during their entire sentence — including parole and probation. The new law (effective March 2020) restored voting rights to approximately 80,000 people by making incarceration the only disqualification.
- Can I vote while on probation in New Jersey?
- Yes. Since the 2019 law took effect in March 2020, people on probation can vote in New Jersey. Your voting rights are not affected by being on probation. Simply register or re-register to vote.
- What is the voter registration deadline in New Jersey?
- You must register or update your registration at least 21 days before Election Day. New Jersey does not currently offer same-day registration. Plan ahead and register well before the election to ensure you can vote.
- Can I vote by mail in New Jersey with a felony record?
- Yes. Any registered voter in New Jersey can vote by mail without providing a reason. Request a vote-by-mail ballot from your county clerk's office or online. There is no restriction on vote-by-mail based on felony history.
- Will I be notified when my voting rights are restored in New Jersey?
- The Department of Corrections is required by law to provide voter registration information and assistance to people upon release from incarceration. You should receive information about how to register to vote as part of the release process.
- Does an expungement affect my voting rights in New Jersey?
- An expungement is not necessary to restore voting rights in New Jersey since rights are automatically restored upon release from incarceration. However, an expungement can remove other consequences of a criminal record, such as barriers to employment, housing, and professional licensing.
- What if I was wrongly told I cannot vote because of my conviction?
- Misinformation about felon voting rights is common. If you have been released from incarceration, you can vote in New Jersey regardless of parole or probation status. Contact the NJ Division of Elections at 1-877-658-6837 (NJVOTER), your county clerk's office, or the ACLU of New Jersey for confirmation and to report any incorrect information.
Take Action — Direct Links
- NJ Division of Elections — Voter Rights and Accessibility
Official state page explaining voter rights, including eligibility rules for people with felony convictions.
- New Jersey Online Voter Registration
New Jersey's official online voter registration portal. Requires a NJ driver's license or ID number.
- ACLU of New Jersey — Know Your Voting Rights
Know-your-rights guide from the ACLU of New Jersey explaining who can and cannot vote, including people with criminal records.
- Campaign Legal Center — Restore Your Vote (New Jersey)
Interactive tool that walks you through New Jersey's specific rules and helps determine your eligibility to register to vote.
- NJ Department of Corrections — Restore Your Right to Vote (PDF)
Handbook from the NJ Department of Corrections explaining voting rights restoration for people with felony convictions, including step-by-step registration instructions.
- Brennan Center — Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in New Jersey
Overview of New Jersey's voting rights restoration history and recent legislative changes from the Brennan Center for Justice.
Video Guides
Sources
- NJ Division of Elections — Voter Rights and Accessibility
- NJSA 19:4-1 — Qualifications for Suffrage (2024)
- NJSA 19:4-1.1 — Findings on Voting Rights for Persons on Parole or Probation
- NPR — New Jersey Governor Signs Bills Restoring Voting Rights to More Than 80,000 People
- Brennan Center — Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in New Jersey
- ACLU of New Jersey — Know Your Voting Rights
- US Vote Foundation — New Jersey Voting Rights Restoration
- NCSL — Felon Voting Rights by State