As a citizen of Kentucky, you lose the right to vote and hold public office if you are convicted of a felony. However, the Kentucky Constitution gives the Governor the option to restore these civil rights.

On December 12, 2019, Governor Andy Beshear issued an Executive Order automatically restoring the right to vote and the right to hold public office for Kentuckians who have been convicted of non-violent felonies and who have satisfied their term of supervised release and/or their sentence of incarceration.

If you were convicted of a non-violent felony, your right to vote and hold a political office is automatically restored when you complete your sentence.

Not sure if you are eligible for restoration?

- Check your status

- Take the 'Can You Vote?' Questionnaire

What's next?

- Register to Vote

Kentuckians convicted of the felonies listed below do not receive automatic restoration of their civil rights:

• Treason;
• Bribery in an election;
• A violent offense defined in KRS 439.3401;
• Any offense under KRS Chapter 507 or KRS Chapter 507A;
• Any assault, as defined in KRS 508.020 or KRS 508.040,
• Strangulation in the first degree, as defined in KRS 508.170;
• Human trafficking, as defined in KRS 529.100;
• Any felony conviction in another state or in the federal system.
  

If you are convicted of one of these felonies, your rights will not be automatically restored under Governor Beshear's Executive Order.  However, you may still apply for restoration of your civil rights through the process set forth in the Department of Corrections regulations:

Kentucky CPP 27-26-01 Restoration of Civil Rights

*Any individual who submitted an application for restoration of civil rights to a prior Governor's administration is encouraged to submit an application with updated information to the current administration.