Voting after a Criminal Conviction
You can vote even if you were convicted of a felony, if:
- The felony convictions are not for the crime of buying or selling votes; and
- You have completed your imprisonment.
You can vote while on probation, unless you were convicted of buying or selling votes.
You cannot vote if:
- you have ever been convicted of buying or selling votes; or
- have been convicted of a felony and are currently serving a court–ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction; or
- are under guardianship for mental disability AND the appropriate court has found by clear and convincing evidence that you cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process;
Read the Law: Md. Code, Election Law § 3-102
Working with the Board of Elections if you believe you were incorrectly removed from the voter rolls
The Board of Elections may remove a person from the voter registry once the Board of Election receives a report of the death of a registered voter from the Maryland Department of Health, the official vital statistics agency of another state, or from another reliable source.
A person may also be removed if the Board of Election receives a report of a conviction of a registered voter for any crime that would affect the voter's qualifications. The Board of Elections will mail you a notice that describes the report the Board received and that notifies you that you will be removed from the voter registration list. You can object to that removal, but you must do so within 2 weeks after the date of the letter. You can object by sending your objection, including the reasons for your objection, in writing, to your local election board.
Read the Regulation: COMAR 33.05.06.05
Registering to vote after you have been removed
You may apply to have Restoration of Voting Rights in Maryland, from the State Board of Elections.