VOTING WITH A CRIMINAL
RECORD IN FLORIDA
Determining Someone’s Eligibility to Register
and Vote Under Amendment 4 and SB 7066
What are voting rights in Florida?
Citizens 18 years and older have the right to
register and then vote.
You lose the right to vote in Florida if you
are convicted of a felony until you finish your
sentence, including prison, parole and/or
probation, and pay the money you were ordered
to pay by a court when you were convicted.
Did you lose your voting rights
because of a criminal conviction?
If you were convicted of a felony within the state
of Florida:
You lose your voting rights only for a felony
conviction, and only while serving your sentence.
Florida law has included in your sentence
paying off “legal financial obligations” (LFOs),
which may include “fines,” “fees,” “costs,” and
“restitution” related to your felony conviction.
You lose your voting rights if you pleaded guilty
or received a guilty verdict after trial. You lose
your voting rights when sentenced following
your plea or verdict.
If the court has “withheld adjudication,” that
means you were not sentenced and you have
not lost your voting rights. But if the court later
convicts you, then you lose your voting rights.
You regain voting rights after you complete
your sentence, including prison, parole and/or
probation, and pay off your LFOs.
Exception: if you received a conviction for
murder or a felony sexual offense, you do not
regain your voting rights. Instead, you have to
apply for clemency.
You can register and vote now if:
You were convicted of a misdemeanor (and are
not currently on probation or parole or owe any
money for a felony conviction).
You are in jail for a misdemeanor (and are
not currently on probation or parole or owe any
money for a felony conviction).
You are in jail awaiting trial (and are not
currently on probation or parole or owe any
money for a felony conviction).
This card is a resource, not legal advice.
It is provided for informational purposes
and not as a substitute or supplement
to legal advice necessary to address
individuals’ specific concerns.
Published August 2022