I have a criminal record

Your criminal record does not affect your right to vote in Minnesota unless you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction .

Voting after a felony conviction

You can vote if you are not incarcerated, including if you are on parole. You will need to register to vote. It is best to register before Election Day, but it is not required. 

You can vote if...

• you were charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor.
• you are in jail, but are not currently serving a felony sentence.
• you have been charged with a felony, but you haven’t been convicted.
• you have been given a stay of adjudication.
• you have been convicted of a felony, but are not incarcerated.
• you are on work release, even if you return to a jail facility at night. 
• you are residing in a residential reentry center as a federal alternative to pretrial detention, state supervised release, or other non-incarcerated purpose. You should consult with your probation officer if you have questions about whether you are considered incarcerated while residing at the residential reentry center. 

You cannot vote if...

• you are currently incarcerated serving a felony sentence in prison, jail, or (for federal felony sentences) residential reentry center.

Not sure about your legal status?

Sometimes it is not clear whether a felony charge results in a felony conviction. If you are unsure, you may want to seek legal advice from an attorney.