Are convicted felons allowed to vote in Missouri and Arkansas?

ST. LOUIS – With just five weeks until the 2024 presidential election, most U.S. citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote as long as they are registered. However, for some individuals, the right to vote may be more complicated due to a criminal conviction.

While no federal law directly prohibits convicted felons from voting, the authority to restrict such a situation falls with individual states. It’s not necessarily uncommon for states to govern if and when convicted felons can vote in elections.

Supporters may argue that allowing felons to vote is essential to ensure a more inclusive democracy. Critics, however, may argue that felons should forfeit their role in shaping politics due to their disregard for the law.

For the states of Missouri and Arkansas, are convicted felons allowed to vote in elections? For this year’s general election and beyond, make sure to keep these considerations in mind.

Missouri

The most recent statute in Missouri to address rules around convicted felons’ voting was amended in 2017.

Generally speaking, if a potential Missouri voter is still serving a sentence for a felony conviction, they cannot vote. If all terms of serving the sentence for a felony conviction are complete, they could be eligible.

Missouri State Statute 561.026 explains:

The statute also prevents anyone with a felony or misdemeanor connected with “the exercise of the right to suffrage,” or election-related charges, will never be qualified to vote or register in their lifetime again.

According to the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office , if you have completed probation and parole after a felony sentence, you are eligible to have your voting rights restored. Anyone who meets those conditions must re-register to vote, as Missouri removes felons from their registration upon conviction.

According to the Missouri Department of Corrections , if you are a convicted felon who has completed a sentence, probation and parole seeking to re-register to vote, contact your local election authority or the Missouri Board of Elections at 800-669-8683 to re-register.

Arkansas

The most recent statute in Arkansas to address rules around convicted felons’ voting was amended in 2023.

Generally speaking, if a potential Arkansas voter is still serving a sentence for a felony conviction, they cannot vote. Only when all terms of serving the sentence for a felony conviction are complete can the state restore their voting rights.

Arkansas Code Amendment 51 Section 11 explains:

According to Arkansas.gov , convicted felons will have to prove to a county clerk that they have been discharged from probation or parole among other conditions to restore their voting rights. Convicted felons who want to vote also have the option to request to have their records expunged at the end of their sentence.

Unlike Missouri, Arkansas statutes don’t immediately ban someone from voting again if their felony is an election-related offense. However, certain cases could be up for review and possibly lead to permanent disenfranchisement depending on the severity of the offense.

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