{"id":351489,"date":"2020-03-17T09:36:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T14:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/my-voting-guide\/can-felons-vote-in-california-elections.html"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:51:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:51:21","slug":"can-felons-vote-in-california-elections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/my-voting-guide\/can-felons-vote-in-california-elections.html","title":{"rendered":"Can Felons Vote in California Elections?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can Felons Vote in California Elections?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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In California<\/span>, individuals with past felony convictions<\/span> can have their right to vote automatically restored once they complete their\u00a0prison term<\/span>, even if they are\u00a0currently on parole, probation, or supervised release<\/span>. They must go through a voting re-registration process through the Secretary of State.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Having a past felony conviction<\/span> in California<\/span> doesn\u2019t always mean you\u2019ll never be able to vote again. This guide is for people with past convictions seeking to restore their voting rights<\/span>. We will walk you through the current laws for formerly incarcerated individuals and explain the exact steps you need to take to regain your voice in California<\/span> elections.<\/p>\n

The California<\/span> Voting Rights<\/span> Restoration<\/span> Amendment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In 2020, California<\/span> voters approved an amendment to the California<\/span> Constitution. Proposition 17<\/span>, the Voting Rights<\/span> Restoration<\/span> for Persons on Parole Amendment, restored the voting rights<\/span> of all individuals on parole after incarceration.<\/p>\n

Prior to this amendment, California<\/span> voting rights<\/span> were restored only to those who had completed their entire sentences, including parole, probation, and supervised release<\/span>. This left a large number of former inmates still completing parole for felony sentences<\/span> who could not legally vote.<\/p>\n

\u201c(b) An elector disqualified from voting while serving a state or federal <\/span>prison<\/span> term<\/span>, as described in Section 4, shall have their right to vote restored upon the completion of their prison term<\/span>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The amendment restored voting rights<\/span> to parolees. This allowed those with felony convictions<\/span> the right to vote, except for:<\/p>\n

The Voting Rights<\/span> Restoration<\/span> Amendment removed a restriction in the California<\/span> Constitution that specifically prevented parolees from voting. This was accomplished by adding the following to Article II, Section 2:<\/a><\/p>\n