Facing a felony charge can raise many questions about your future, especially when it comes to your right to vote. Maryland law sets clear rules about when you can and cannot vote after a felony conviction. Knowing these rules helps you understand what happens and how to regain your rights.
When you lose your voting rights
In Maryland, you lose your right to vote only while you serve time in a state or federal correctional facility for a felony conviction. If you are in prison for a felony, you cannot vote during that time. The law also says that people convicted of buying or selling votes cannot vote, even after release. Once you complete your sentence and leave prison, you become eligible to vote again.
When you regain your voting rights
Maryland restores your right to vote as soon as you finish your prison sentence. You do not need to finish probation or parole first. Once you leave prison, you can register to vote right away. This rule makes Maryland more flexible than many other states, which often require extra steps or waiting periods before restoring voting rights.
How to register after release
After your release, you can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at your local board of elections. You must confirm that you are no longer serving time for a felony conviction. If you registered to vote before your conviction, you must complete a new voter registration form. Re-registering ensures your name appears correctly on the list of eligible voters.
A felony charge can change many parts of your life, but it does not erase your voice in the community. If you complete your sentence, you can vote again and take part in shaping Maryland’s future. Regaining your voting rights helps you rebuild civic participation and strengthen your connection to your community.