Felons Can Vote in California Under New Law

Proposition 17 granted voting rights to felons on parole

Certain conditions must be met to register to vote

California law on felon voting rights has recently changed. Felons can now register to vote and vote if they are a United States citizen and a resident of California 18 years old or older on Election Day.

Proposition 17, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2020, allowed people on parole for felony convictions to vote in California. Before Proposition 17 was passed, felons could not vote in California until they had completed parole.

California is one of at least three states where lawmakers this year have introduced proposals to allow citizens to vote while serving time for criminal offenses. In New York, a bill that would allow people convicted of felonies to vote while in prison passed the state Senate in March but has not yet been taken up by the Assembly.