Voting After A Conviction
N.J.S.A. 19:4-1 — no vote only while serving a sentence of incarceration
In New Jersey, no person has the right of suffrage who is serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, another state, or the United States.
Only during incarceration. The disqualification is written in terms of serving a sentence of incarceration. Probation and parole are not in its terms.
| The question | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The questionWho may not vote | The statute's answerA person serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense |
| The questionFor how long | The statute's answerWhile serving the sentence of incarceration |
| The questionConvictions elsewhere | The statute's answerAn indictable offense under another state's or federal law counts |
Election offenses under Title 19 and registration deadlines are not all on this page. Whether a particular conviction affects a particular person's right to vote is a question for the county election office or a licensed New Jersey attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- N.J.S.A. 19:4-1 — Qualifications; persons not having right of suffrage; right to register
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Jersey attorney.