Yes, people with felony convictions can vote in Nevada. Under NRS 213.157, your right to vote is restored automatically the moment you are released from prison, no matter what the felony was, and no application or waiting period is required. If you were sentenced to probation instead of prison, or you are out on parole, you never lose the right in the first place.
When Your Right to Vote Comes Back
NRS 213.157 covers every felony conviction without exception. The category of the offense does not matter. A property crime, a drug offense, and a violent felony are all treated the same way: once you walk out of prison, you can register and vote.
The statute also reaches people who never go to prison at all. If a judge sentences you to probation, grants parole, or issues a pardon, your right to vote is immediately restored under NRS 213.157(1)(a). Probation-only sentences do not interrupt your eligibility.
This applies whether the conviction came from a Nevada court, another state, or the federal system. The Nevada Secretary of State’s office has confirmed that the origin of the conviction does not change your eligibility once you have been released.
Your Restoration Document
When you are released, the state is required to give you an official document confirming that your civil rights, including voting, have been restored. Keep it. If it is lost or destroyed, you can file a written request with a court for a replacement order at no cost.
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 is staggered:
- Voting: restored immediately on release, or immediately on being placed on probation or parole.
- Civil jury service: restored immediately on release.
- Holding public office: restored four years after release.
- Criminal jury service: restored six years after release.
Firearms sit outside this scheme entirely. Nevada law still prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from owning or possessing a firearm, and the voting restoration document does not cover guns. Restoring firearm rights requires a full pardon from the State Board of Pardons Commissioners, and the pardon must say explicitly that your right to bear arms is restored.
How to Register After Your Rights Are Restored
Restoration is automatic. Registration is not. You still have to sign up through the normal process before you can cast a ballot.
To register, you 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 do not have a Nevada license or state ID.
- A county-issued identification number, assigned by the county clerk after you sign an affidavit, if you have neither of the above.
You also need a physical residential address. A P.O. box alone is not enough for your residence, though you can list one as a separate mailing address.
There are three ways to submit a registration:
- Online at registertovote.nv.gov. This 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.
- In person at any DMV office, your county clerk’s office, certain social service agencies, or at a polling location during early voting or on Election Day.
Deadlines
- Mail registration must be postmarked at least 28 days before Election Day.
- Online registration must be submitted at least 5 days before Election Day.
- Same-day registration is available during early voting and on Election Day at a polling location, with a valid Nevada ID and proof of residency.
Missing the mail or online deadline does not shut you out, because Nevada allows same-day registration, but registering early avoids lines and problems at the polls.
Check Your Status Before Election Day
After you register, confirm your information is accurate and your status shows as active. The Nevada Secretary of State’s voter registration search tool lets you pull up your record with your name, date of birth, and identification number. If nothing comes up or your status is inactive, contact your county clerk or registrar of voters before Election Day.
Do Not Register If You Are Not Sure You Are Eligible
Registering when you know you are ineligible, or putting false information on the form, is a crime. Federal law allows a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both, for knowingly giving false information about your name, address, or residency to establish voting eligibility, and Nevada imposes its own penalties. If you have any doubt about your status, call the Secretary of State’s office or your county clerk before you fill anything out.