Yes, people with felony convictions can vote in Nevada as soon as they are released from prison. Under NRS 213.157, restoration is automatic: no application, no petition, no waiting period. If your sentence never included prison, whether because you received probation, parole, or a pardon, your right to vote was never interrupted at all.
When Your Right to Vote Comes Back
The category of the felony does not matter. Property crime, drug offense, violent felony — the rule is the same. The moment you walk out of prison, you can register and vote.
For anyone sentenced to probation, granted parole, or issued a pardon, NRS 213.157(1)(a) restores voting rights immediately. A probation-only sentence never takes your vote away in the first place, and being on parole or probation after release from prison does not delay it either.
Upon release, the state must give you an official document confirming that your civil rights, including voting, have been restored. If you lose that document, you can file a written request with a court and receive a replacement order at no cost.
Out-of-State and Federal Convictions
The automatic restoration is not limited to Nevada convictions. If you were convicted of a federal felony or a felony in another state and now live in Nevada, your voting rights here are restored once you are released from prison. The Nevada Secretary of State’s office has confirmed that the origin of the conviction does not change your eligibility.
What Automatic Restoration Does Not Cover
Getting your vote back does not mean getting every civil right back. Under NRS 213.157, the timeline after release from prison runs on separate tracks:
- Voting: restored immediately on release, or immediately on being placed on probation or parole.
- Civil jury service: restored immediately on release from prison.
- Holding public office: restored four years after release.
- Criminal jury service: restored six years after release.
Firearms sit outside this framework entirely. Nevada law prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from owning or possessing a firearm, and the 2019 restoration law did not change that. Restoring gun rights requires a full pardon from the State Board of Pardons Commissioners, and the pardon must explicitly state that your right to bear arms is restored. The restoration document you receive upon release does not cover firearms.
Registering Once You’re Eligible
Your rights come back automatically, but your voter registration does not. You still have to register through the normal process before you can cast a ballot.
To register, you’ll need one of the following:
- A Nevada driver’s license or state ID number.
- The last four digits of your Social Security number, if you don’t have a Nevada license or state ID.
- A county-issued identification number, if you have neither. You sign an affidavit and the county clerk assigns you a unique number.
You also need a physical residential address. A P.O. box alone won’t work for your residence, though you can list one as a separate mailing address.
There are three ways to submit the registration. Online, through registertovote.nv.gov, which requires a Nevada driver’s license or state ID. By mail, using the paper form from the Secretary of State’s website, sent to your county clerk or registrar of voters. Or in person at any DMV office, your county clerk’s office, various social service agencies, or your polling place during early voting or on Election Day.
Registration Deadlines
Deadlines depend on the method:
- Mail: postmarked at least 28 days before Election Day.
- Online: submitted at least 5 days before Election Day.
- In person: available through early voting and on Election Day itself. Same-day registration at a polling location requires a valid Nevada ID and proof of residency.
Missing the earlier deadlines doesn’t shut you out, because Nevada allows same-day registration. Registering earlier just avoids lines and complications at the polls.
If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, contact the Secretary of State’s office or your county clerk before registering. Knowingly providing false information about your eligibility carries federal penalties of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both, along with additional penalties under Nevada state law.