In New Jersey, people with felony convictions can vote as long as they are not currently serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense. Parole, probation, unpaid fines, restitution, and court costs do not disqualify you. Once you are physically out of prison or jail, you can register and vote in every local, state, and federal election.1Justia. New Jersey Code 19-4-1 – Qualifications; Persons Not Having Right of Suffrage; Right to Register
Who Is Eligible
The New Jersey statute draws one line. If you are serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense, you cannot vote. Everyone else with a criminal record can.1Justia. New Jersey Code 19-4-1 – Qualifications; Persons Not Having Right of Suffrage; Right to Register
That means you do not have to finish your sentence to vote. You do not have to complete parole. You do not have to complete probation. You do not have to pay off fines or restitution. There is no waiting period and no petition process. If you’re out, you’re in.
You still have to meet the ordinary requirements for any New Jersey voter: U.S. citizenship, age 18 by election day, and residency in your county for at least 30 days before the election.2New Jersey Department of State. Register to Vote
Halfway Houses and Residential Programs
One situation is not obvious and deserves attention before you register. New Jersey treats people in halfway houses and residential community release programs as still incarcerated for certain legal purposes.3New Jersey Legislature. Chapter 25 – Residential Community Release Programs If you are living in a halfway house as part of your sentence rather than as a condition of parole, you may still be considered to be serving a sentence of incarceration, and therefore ineligible.
The distinction is not always clear from the inside. Call your County Commissioner of Registration and confirm your status before you fill out any registration form. Guessing wrong carries criminal penalties, described below.
How to Register After Release
You need one form of ID to register: a valid New Jersey driver’s license number or a non-driver identification card number from the Motor Vehicle Commission.2New Jersey Department of State. Register to Vote If you have neither, you can use the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have none of those, you can indicate that on the form and still submit it.4New Jersey Department of State. Voter Registration FAQ
Many people leaving incarceration don’t have current state ID. A non-driver identification card from the MVC costs $24, or $6 if you have a documented disability.5New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Non-Driver Identification Card
You can register three ways:
- Online through the New Jersey Division of Elections website, using an electronic signature.6New Jersey Division of Elections. Voter Registration
- By mail, sending a paper application to the County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections in your county.
- In person at MVC offices, county election offices, or many other government agencies.
The deadline is 21 days before an election. Miss it, and your registration is processed for the next cycle.2New Jersey Department of State. Register to Vote
If You Don’t Have a Fixed Address
Not having stable housing does not stop you from registering. You can describe where you sleep as your residential address, such as a park or a street intersection. For a mailing address, you can use a shelter, a religious center, general delivery at a post office, or the address of a friend or family member.7Vote.gov. Voting While Unhoused Keep your mailing address current with the county so voting materials reach you.
You can confirm the registration went through using the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. Enter your name and date of birth, and the system will pull up your record.8State of New Jersey. New Jersey Voter Information Portal If nothing shows up after a reasonable wait, call your County Commissioner of Registration.
How to Cast Your Ballot
Once you’re registered, you have three options.
Election day. Go to your assigned polling place. Your county election office can confirm the location.
Early in-person voting. New Jersey holds an early voting window before both the primary and the general election. Each county designates between 3 and 10 early voting locations depending on size, and these are separate from election day polling places.9New Jersey Division of Elections. In-Person Early Voting
Vote by mail. Any registered New Jersey voter can request a mail-in ballot without giving a reason.10New Jersey Division of Elections. Vote-By-Mail The application must be submitted at least 7 days before the election to receive a ballot by mail, or you can pick one up in person from the county clerk as late as 3 p.m. the day before election day. Return the completed ballot by mail postmarked by 8 p.m. on election day, drop it in a secure ballot drop box by 8 p.m., or hand-deliver it to your county Board of Elections. No witness or notary is required.
If you show up to vote on election day and your name isn’t on the rolls, ask for a provisional ballot. Poll workers are required to offer one. You sign a statement affirming your eligibility, and the ballot is set aside for review by the county board.11Justia. New Jersey Code 19-53C-1 – Preparation and Counting of Provisional Ballots
The Penalty for Getting It Wrong
Voting when you are not entitled to is a third-degree crime in New Jersey.12Justia. New Jersey Code 19-34-11 – Fraudulent Voting Registering in a district where you are not eligible, or under a false name, is also a third-degree crime.13Justia. New Jersey Code 19-34-1 – Registration Offenses Third-degree crimes in New Jersey carry a potential prison sentence of three to five years.
For most people with felony records who have been released, eligibility is straightforward. For anyone in a halfway house, residential program, or unclear supervision status, confirm with the county election office before you register.
What Changes in 2027
Senate Bill 1636, signed in late 2025, takes effect on January 1, 2027. It requires the New Jersey Department of Corrections to work with the Secretary of State and the Motor Vehicle Commission to offer voter registration to people about to be released.14New Jersey Legislature. Bill S1636 When an incarcerated person applies for a non-driver ID before release and can give the address where they’ll live, registration will be offered at the same time. The registration doesn’t become active until the person is actually released. The law does not change who is eligible. It only makes the paperwork easier at the moment of release. Until then, you register on your own using the methods above.