Voting Rights After a Felony in Virginia

How Virginia law treats voting with a felony conviction, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: The Virginia Constitution says no person convicted of a felony may vote unless their civil rights are restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority, but the Department of Elections says that under a recent federal court order, a felony conviction now takes away voting rights… Va. Const. art. II, § 1; Virginia Department of Elections, 'Felony Convictions and Voter Eligibility'

Voting with a felony conviction	The Virginia Constitution says no person convicted of a felony may vote unless their civil rights are restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority, but the Department of Elections says that under a recent federal court order, a felony conviction now takes away voting rights only for certain 'common law felonies' from 1870. Virginia has identified three statutes that match these: murder (§ 18.2-32), voluntary manslaughter (§ 18.2-35) and involuntary manslaughter (§ 18.2-36). People with other felony convictions may register once they are no longer physically incarcerated, with no application to the Governor; no one may register or vote while physically incarcerated for a felony, and people convicted of a disqualifying offense still need restoration by the Governor. Constitution: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article2/section1/ . A proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot ('Question 3', per the Department of Elections) would restore voting rights on release from incarceration; this record describes the rule in effect on 2026-10-28. Source: Va. Const. art. II, § 1; Virginia Department of Elections, 'Felony Convictions and Voter Eligibility'

Voting with a felony conviction

The Virginia Constitution says no person convicted of a felony may vote unless their civil rights are restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority, but the Department of Elections says that under a recent federal court order, a felony conviction now takes away voting rights only for certain 'common law felonies' from 1870. Virginia has identified three statutes that match these: murder (§ 18.2-32), voluntary manslaughter (§ 18.2-35) and involuntary manslaughter (§ 18.2-36). People with other felony convictions may register once they are no longer physically incarcerated, with no application to the Governor; no one may register or vote while physically incarcerated for a felony, and people convicted of a disqualifying offense still need restoration by the Governor.

Constitution: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article2/section1/ . A proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot ('Question 3', per the Department of Elections) would restore voting rights on release from incarceration; this record describes the rule in effect on 2026-10-28.

Source: Va. Const. art. II, § 1; Virginia Department of Elections, 'Felony Convictions and Voter Eligibility'

More Virginia criminal law

FAQ

Can felons vote in Virginia?

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.