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Can Felons Vote in Tennessee?

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It depends. If you were convicted of a felony in Tennessee, you lose your right to vote and must go through a formal restoration process to regain it. You must complete your full sentence (including probation/parole), obtain a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights or a court order, and meet financial requirements. If you were convicted of murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud, your rights are permanently lost and can only be restored by a governor's pardon.

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Overview

Tennessee has one of the most complex felon voting rights restoration processes in the country. All felony convictions are classified as 'infamous crimes' that strip voting rights. Restoration requires completion of your sentence (including probation and parole), meeting financial obligations, and obtaining a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights (COR) or a court order. Certain offenses — including murder, rape, treason, and voter fraud — result in permanent disenfranchisement with no path to restoration except through a gubernatorial pardon. The process varies significantly depending on the date of conviction. Recent 2025 legislation (SB 1487 / HB 1574) eased financial requirements by removing court cost obligations for most offenders and allowing those on child support payment plans to qualify for restoration.

Quick Answer

It depends. If you were convicted of a felony in Tennessee, you lose your right to vote and must go through a formal restoration process to regain it. You must complete your full sentence (including probation/parole), obtain a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights or a court order, and meet financial requirements. If you were convicted of murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud, your rights are permanently lost and can only be restored by a governor's pardon.

Can vote

  • ✓Convicted of a felony before January 15, 1973 (unless rendered 'infamous' by a judge) — register normally
  • ✓Convicted of a felony between January 15, 1973 and May 17, 1981 — register normally (automatic restoration)
  • ✓Convicted of a non-permanently-disqualifying felony on or after May 18, 1981 and has obtained a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights (COR) or court order
  • ✓Person who has received a full gubernatorial pardon (including for permanently disqualifying offenses)
  • ✓Person whose full rights of citizenship have been restored by court order (effective May 2, 2025)
  • ✓Person convicted of a misdemeanor (misdemeanors do not affect voting rights)
  • ✓Person in jail awaiting trial who has not been convicted (pretrial detention)

Cannot vote

  • ✗Currently incarcerated in state or federal prison for a felony conviction
  • ✗Currently on parole or probation for a felony and has not yet completed the sentence
  • ✗Convicted of a felony on or after May 18, 1981 and has not obtained a COR or court order
  • ✗Has not paid all victim restitution (required for all felony classes)
  • ✗Has not paid court costs (required for Class A and B felonies; removed for Class C-E under 2025 legislation)
  • ✗Not current on child support obligations (must be current or on a payment plan for 12+ months under 2025 legislation)
  • ✗Convicted of murder (any degree) — permanently disenfranchised
  • ✗Convicted of rape (any degree, including statutory rape) — permanently disenfranchised
  • ✗Convicted of treason — permanently disenfranchised
  • ✗Convicted of voter fraud — permanently disenfranchised
  • ✗Convicted of certain sexual offenses against minors (felony-level, post-July 2006) — permanently disenfranchised
  • ✗Convicted of bribery or misconduct involving public officials (post-July 2006) — permanently disenfranchised

Step-by-Step Process

1

Determine your conviction date and offense category

Tennessee's restoration process depends heavily on when you were convicted and what offense. If convicted before January 15, 1973, or between January 15, 1973 and May 17, 1981, you may register normally without additional steps. If convicted on or after May 18, 1981, you need a Certificate of Restoration or court order. If convicted of murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud, your only option is a governor's pardon.

2

Complete your full sentence

You must be pardoned, discharged from custody, or granted a Certificate of Final Discharge from supervision by the Board of Parole or other authority. This means completing all incarceration, parole, probation, and community supervision. Your probation/parole officer can confirm your discharge status.

3

Meet financial requirements

You must have paid all victim restitution ordered by the court. For Class A and B felonies, you must also pay all court costs (unless a court finds you indigent at the time of filing). Under 2025 legislation, court cost requirements were removed for Class C, D, and E felonies. You must be current on all child support obligations, or have been in compliance with a payment plan for at least 12 months.

4

Obtain a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights (COR)

The COR form (SS-3041) must be completed by an authorized agent — such as a probation/parole officer, criminal court clerk, or TDOC official — not by the applicant themselves. The agent verifies your conviction details, release date, and financial obligations. The completed COR must be submitted to the county election commission in the county where you reside.

5

Register to vote

Once your COR is approved by the county election commission, you can register to vote. Register online at GoVoteTN.com, by mailing a paper registration form, or in person at your county election commission office. You will need your Tennessee driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your SSN. The registration deadline is 30 days before an election.

6

Vote and stay registered

After registering, you will receive a voter registration card. Tennessee offers in-person voting on Election Day, early voting (typically 10-20 days before an election), and absentee voting by mail for eligible voters. Keep your registration current by notifying your county election commission if you move or change your name.

Key Laws

LawYearDescription
Tennessee Constitution, Article I, Section 5 and Article IV, Section 21870The Tennessee Constitution provides that citizens convicted of 'infamous' crimes may be disqualified from voting. Article IV, Section 2 authorizes the legislature to define which crimes are 'infamous' and to set conditions for restoration.
TCA 40-29-201 through 40-29-205 — Voting Rights Restoration1981 (amended 2006, 2023, 2025)The statutory framework for restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction. TCA 40-29-202 sets the eligibility requirements for applying for a voter registration card, including sentence completion, payment of restitution and court costs, and child support compliance. TCA 40-29-204 provides for the Certificate of Restoration form.
TCA 40-29-105 — Felons Convicted of Infamous Crimes1986 (amended 1996, 2006)Defines which offenses result in permanent disenfranchisement by conviction date. Post-July 1, 1996: any degree of murder or rape. Post-July 1, 2006: adds felony sexual offenses against minors, bribery, misconduct involving public officials, and interference with government operations. Voter fraud and treason are permanently disqualifying regardless of date.
SB 1487 / HB 1574 — Easing Restoration Financial Requirements2025Legislation that passed both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly and eases financial barriers for voting rights restoration. Removes the court cost payment requirement for Class C, D, and E felonies (retaining it only for Class A and B felonies). Modifies the child support requirement so that persons who have complied with a payment plan for at least 12 months are eligible, rather than requiring full payment. Awaiting governor's signature as of March 2026.
Public Chapter 467 — Full Restoration of Citizenship Rights by Court Order2025Effective May 2, 2025, if a court issues an order restoring a person's full rights of citizenship, the person may submit a certified copy of the court order to the Administrator of Elections in their county to restore voting rights, providing an alternative pathway to the COR process.

Edge Cases

I was convicted before January 15, 1973. Do I need a Certificate of Restoration?

Generally no. If your conviction was before January 15, 1973, you may register to vote without a COR or court order unless a judge specifically rendered you 'infamous' at the time of conviction. Answer the appropriate question on the voter registration form truthfully and contact your county election commission if you are unsure.

I was convicted between January 15, 1973 and May 17, 1981. What do I need?

For convictions in this period, your voting rights are generally restored automatically upon completion of your sentence. You do not need a COR or court order. Register to vote normally and answer the felony question on the registration form truthfully. Some county election commissions may ask for documentation of sentence completion.

Can I complete the Certificate of Restoration form myself?

No. The COR form (SS-3041) must be completed by an authorized agent — typically a probation/parole officer, criminal court clerk, or Tennessee Department of Correction official. The agent verifies your conviction, discharge, and financial status. You cannot fill out the form yourself.

I was convicted of murder but received a commutation (not a pardon). Can I vote?

A commutation reduces your sentence but does not erase the conviction. For permanently disqualifying offenses like murder, only a full pardon from the Governor restores voting rights. A commutation alone does not restore the right to vote.

I have a federal felony conviction. Can I get my Tennessee voting rights restored?

Yes, but the process differs. Federal convictions are covered under Tennessee's restoration framework, but obtaining a COR may be more complex because the form must be completed by a federal official or agent. Contact the U.S. Probation Office in your district for assistance. You must still meet all financial requirements.

I was convicted in another state but now live in Tennessee. What process do I follow?

If you were convicted of a felony in another state and now reside in Tennessee, you must follow Tennessee's restoration process. A 2020 Attorney General's opinion (Op. 20-06) confirmed that out-of-state felons must obtain restoration through Tennessee's process. Contact your county election commission for guidance on which agent can complete your COR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I vote in Tennessee if I have a felony conviction?
It depends on your offense and your restoration status. Tennessee strips voting rights for all felony convictions. You can regain your right to vote by completing your sentence, meeting financial requirements, and obtaining a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights or a court order. However, if you were convicted of murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud, your rights are permanently lost unless you receive a governor's pardon.
What are the permanently disqualifying offenses in Tennessee?
The following offenses result in permanent loss of voting rights: murder (any degree), rape (any degree, including statutory rape), treason, and voter fraud. For convictions after July 1, 2006, the list also includes felony sexual offenses against minors, bribery, misconduct involving public officials, and interference with government operations. Only a governor's pardon can restore rights for these offenses.
How do I get a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights?
Contact your probation/parole officer, the criminal court clerk in the county of your conviction, or the Tennessee Department of Correction. An authorized agent will complete form SS-3041 on your behalf, verifying your conviction details, release date, and financial status. The completed form is submitted to the county election commission where you reside.
Do I have to pay all court costs before I can vote?
Under 2025 legislation (SB 1487 / HB 1574), court cost requirements have been eased. Court costs are still required for Class A and B felonies (unless you are found indigent by the court). Court costs are no longer required for Class C, D, and E felonies. All felony classes still require payment of victim restitution.
What if I owe child support?
You must be current on all child support obligations to restore your voting rights. Under 2025 legislation, you can also qualify if you have been in compliance with a child support payment plan for at least 12 consecutive months, even if you are not fully caught up. Contact your local child support office for documentation of compliance.
How long does the restoration process take?
The timeline varies. Once you have completed your sentence and gathered the required documentation, the COR process itself typically takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly the authorized agent completes the form and the county election commission processes it. If you petition the court for a full restoration of citizenship rights, the court timeline may be longer.
Where do I register to vote after my rights are restored?
Register online at GoVoteTN.com, by mail using a paper form (available at sos.tn.gov), or in person at your county election commission office. You will need a Tennessee driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your SSN. The registration deadline is 30 days before an election.
Can I vote while on parole or probation in Tennessee?
No. You must complete your full sentence — including all parole, probation, and community supervision — before you can begin the restoration process. Your rights cannot be restored while you are still under active supervision for a felony conviction.
Is there legal help available for the restoration process?
Yes. The University of Tennessee College of Law operates a Voter Restoration Project that provides free legal assistance. The Campaign Legal Center has ongoing legal advocacy in Tennessee. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, may also provide assistance. Contact your local legal aid organization for help.
What if I was wrongly told I cannot vote?
Misinformation about felon voting rights is widespread in Tennessee due to the complexity of the system. If you believe you are eligible, contact the Tennessee Secretary of State's Elections Division at (615) 741-7956 or your county election commission. You can also contact the Campaign Legal Center or the ACLU of Tennessee for rights verification and legal assistance.

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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 Tennessee.
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Full dataset: NCSL Felon Voting Rights