The right to vote is paramount to the functioning of our democracy. Voting is the voice of the people.
Because of how important voting is, there can be a lot of misinformation that comes with it. One of those instances can be voting with a criminal conviction. We want to make sure that we provide you with all of the facts so that you feel empowered to vote.
Can I vote with a criminal conviction?
First, in Wisconsin, in order to vote, you have to be a U.S. citizen, be 18 years of age by Election Day and have been a Wisconsin resident for at least 28 days on Election Day.
You can vote with a criminal conviction unless a court has taken away your right to vote due to incompetence or you are in prison or on probation, parole, or extended supervision for a felony, bribery, or treason conviction.
You might pause at this and think, well what if it is a misdemeanor? You can still vote as long as your misdemeanor is not connected to treason or bribery. To be very specific, even if you are in jail or prison, if you have not been convicted of a felony, you can still vote.
Can I vote with a felony conviction?
Now, the operative word is felony. If convicted of a felony, you cannot vote until you are “off paper.”
“Off paper” simply means you are “off” probation, parole or extended supervision and if you have any questions about that, please make sure to check with your parole/probation officer.
You do NOT have to get a pardon to get your voting rights back. Your voting rights are automatically restored as soon as you complete your felony sentence and are “off paper.”
If you are charged with a felony but have not been convicted or pled guilty, you can still vote, even while in jail.
Steps to Vote
You have to register to vote. Even if you were registered before you were convicted of a felony, you have to register again. Learn more about voter registration.
Most voters need to get “photo ID” to vote. Learn more about acceptable IDs for voting.
Eligible voters who are in jail can apply to vote absentee by mail.
We want to make sure that every available Wisconsinite is armed with information and is able to exercise an invaluable right. Make sure to inform anyone who might have doubts about their eligibility to vote because of a current or prior conviction.
Your state needs you. Your community needs you. Our future needs you. We can’t wait to see you at the voting booth!
