Voting Rights Restoration

The law regarding the automatic restoration of civil rights (which includes the right to vote) for first time felony offenders can be found in A.R.S. § 13-907.

For felonies committed in Arizona:

If a person has not previously been convicted of a felony offense, the right to vote is automatically restored to vote when: 

• Probation has been completed, or the person is absolutely discharged from imprisonment.
• All victim restitution fees imposed have been paid. 

The person does not have to apply to the court to have the right to vote restored. Once the right to vote has been restored, the person can then register to vote. 

For felonies committed outside of the jurisdiction of Arizona:

If a person has not previously been convicted of a felony offense, the person is eligible for the automatic restoration of the right to vote when: 

• Probation has been completed, or the person is absolutely discharged from imprisonment.
• All victim restitution fees imposed have been paid. 

The person shall file an application with the courts, and the court shall grant the application without hearing a response from the state or holding a hearing. Once the right to vote have been restored, the person can then register to vote.

The law regarding the restoration of civil rights (which includes the right to vote) for those convicted of a felony can be found in A.R.S. § 13-908. 

The Maricopa County Superior Court Law Library Resource Center provides information here on the Restoration of Civil Rights.

If you need assistance to apply to have your civil rights restored, including your voting rights, please consult an attorney for legal advice. 

A.R.S. § 13-908 states: 

A. On final discharge, a person who has previously been convicted of a felony or who has not paid all victim restitution that was imposed may apply to the superior court to have the person's civil rights restored. The restoration of civil rights is in the discretion of the judicial officer.

B. The person or the person's attorney or probation officer may file the application for the restoration of civil rights. The clerk of the court may not charge a filing fee for an application. The clerk of the court shall forward a copy of the application to the county attorney or attorney general.

C. A person whose civil rights were lost or suspended as a result of a felony conviction in another state or a United States district court and whose period of probation has been completed may file the application for restoration of civil rights in the county in which the person now resides.  

D. A person whose civil rights were lost or suspended as a result of a felony conviction in another state or a United States district court and who has received an absolute discharge from imprisonment in a prison in another state or a federal prison shall file the application for the restoration of civil rights in the county in which the person now resides.  The restoration of civil rights is in the discretion of the judicial officer.

E. This section does not apply to a person's right to possess a firearm as defined in section 13-3101 if the person was convicted of any of the following:

1. A dangerous offense under section 13-704 or an offense committed outside the jurisdiction of this state that would be a dangerous offense under section 13-704 if committed in this state.
2. A serious offense as defined in section 13-706 or an offense committed outside the jurisdiction of this state that would be a serious offense as defined in section 13-706 if committed in this state. 

F. If the person is not entitled to the restoration of firearm rights pursuant to this section, the court may order the restoration of the right to possess a firearm pursuant to section 13-910.

G. For the purposes of this section, "final discharge" means the completion of probation or the receipt of an absolute discharge from the state department of corrections, a prison in another state or the federal bureau of prisons. 

A juvenile offender found to be delinquent by the juvenile court does not lose the right to vote, even if the offense would have been a felony offense had the juvenile been an adult. The juvenile does lose the right to possess a firearm or gun, but not the right to vote, A.R.S. § 8-249. If the juvenile was treated as an adult under the law; the conviction does suspend the right to vote, and the procedures set forth above apply.

Once a person’s civil rights have been restored, the person must register to vote again. Please visit the Register to Vote page for more information.

A person with a felony conviction in their past is encouraged to consult with their attorney to resolve eligibility issues before they register to vote.

Find more resources here.