Voting After A Conviction
Election Law § 5-106 — no vote while incarcerated for a felony, and none of it after
In New York, a person convicted of a felony and sentenced to a period of imprisonment for it may not register or vote while incarcerated for that felony. The same applies to a federal felony conviction, and to a conviction in another state for what would be a felony in New York.
No prison sentence, no bar. The rule does not apply if the person is not sentenced to death or imprisonment, or if the execution of a sentence of imprisonment is suspended.
| The question | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The questionWho may not vote | The statute's answerA person incarcerated for a felony conviction |
| The questionFor how long | The statute's answerWhile incarcerated for the felony |
| The questionA suspended sentence | The statute's answerThe rule does not apply |
The separate bar for buying or selling votes and the rule on court-adjudged incompetence 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 York attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Election Law § 5-106 — Qualifications of voters; reasons for exclusion
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.