Voter Bill of Rights

You have the following rights:

The right to vote if you are a registered voter. You are eligible to vote if you are:

a U.S. Citizen living in California.
at least 18 years old
registered where you currently live.
not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, and
not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

Please visit the California Secretary of State Voter Bill of Rights- English, Spanish, Punjabi

Voting Rights: Individuals with a Criminal History

Persons with a criminal history who can register to vote and also vote:

In local detention facility:
- Serving a misdemeanor sentence (a misdemeanor never affects your right to vote)
- Because jail time is a condition of probation (misdemeanor or felony)
- Serving a felony jail sentence
- Awaiting trial
On parole
On probation
On mandatory supervision
On post-release community supervision
On federal supervised release
A person with a juvenile wardship adjudication

Please visit site at Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History :: California Secretary of State

Persons with a criminal history who cannot register and vote:

Currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony in:

State prison
Federal prison
A local detention facility*

NOTE: Once you have finished serving your term, your right to vote is restored; however, you must register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or by filling out a paper voter registration card.

*California Penal Code section 2910 allows the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to make agreements with local governments to house felons in a county jail or other correctional facility. A person serving a state prison sentence who is housed in a local jail or other facility under these circumstances is not allowed to register and vote.

For more information, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Secretary of State Website

Madera County Elections offers an inmate voting program for those voters who are eligible but currently incarcerated in Madera County Jail. For more information, please call our office at (559) 675-7720.