Voting After A Conviction
G.S. 13-1 — rights restored automatically on unconditional discharge
In North Carolina, a person adjudged guilty of a felony against the State or the United States, or of an equivalent felony elsewhere, may not vote unless first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner the law prescribes.
Restored automatically. The rights come back automatically on any one of these: the unconditional discharge of an inmate, probationer or parolee by the agency with jurisdiction, or of a defendant under a suspended sentence by the court; an unconditional pardon; or satisfying every condition of a conditional pardon.
Federal and out of state convictions. The same events, by the federal agency or the other state's agency, restore the rights for those convictions.
| The question | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The questionWho may not vote | The statute's answerA person adjudged guilty of a felony, until restored |
| The questionWhen the right comes back | The statute's answerOn unconditional discharge from prison, probation or parole, or on a pardon |
| The questionIs an application needed | The statute's answerNo; restoration is automatic |
Registration after restoration and the 30 days of residence 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 North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- G.S. 163-55 — Qualifications to vote; exclusion from electoral franchise
- G.S. 13-1 — Restoration of citizenship
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.