When a person is convicted of a felony, the Department of Corrections notifies the Board of Elections. By law, this person is then removed from the voting rolls.

Once all incarceration, parole, probation, and restitution are completed, an ex-felon’s citizenship rights are automatically restored. Usually ex-felons receive no paperwork that restores their voting rights. Ex-felons who qualify may register to vote by completing the voter registration/update application and then submitting it to the Board of Elections. Ex-felons must check the box on the registration form that states that their rights of citizenship have been restored. The Board of Elections processes ALL voter registration applications, including those completed by ex-felons.

In the event of an eligibility challenge, the Board of Elections requires that ex-felons submit a document from the Clerk of Court from the court of original sentencing which states citizenship rights have been restored.