Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in Maryland

How Maryland law treats restoring rights after a felony, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Voting rights return automatically when a person is no longer serving a court-ordered prison sentence for the felony; no application is needed beyond registering. Md. Code, Elec. Law §3-102(b)(1); Cts. & Jud. Proc. §8-103(b)(4), (c); Pub. Safety §5-133

Restoring rights after a felony	Voting rights return automatically when a person is no longer serving a court-ordered prison sentence for the felony; no application is needed beyond registering. Jury service is different: a person convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year who received a sentence of more than one year is not qualified to serve on a jury unless pardoned. Firearm rights are governed separately by Maryland's ban on possession by people with disqualifying convictions. Cts. & Jud. Proc. §8-103: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?enactments=false&article=gcj&section=8-103; Pub. Safety §5-133: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?enactments=false&article=gps&section=5-133. Source: Md. Code, Elec. Law §3-102(b)(1); Cts. & Jud. Proc. §8-103(b)(4), (c); Pub. Safety §5-133

Restoring rights after a felony

Voting rights return automatically when a person is no longer serving a court-ordered prison sentence for the felony; no application is needed beyond registering. Jury service is different: a person convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year who received a sentence of more than one year is not qualified to serve on a jury unless pardoned. Firearm rights are governed separately by Maryland's ban on possession by people with disqualifying convictions.

Cts. & Jud. Proc. §8-103: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?enactments=false&article=gcj&section=8-103; Pub. Safety §5-133: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?enactments=false&article=gps&section=5-133.

Source: Md. Code, Elec. Law §3-102(b)(1); Cts. & Jud. Proc. §8-103(b)(4), (c); Pub. Safety §5-133

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FAQ

How do you restore your rights after a felony in Maryland?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.