Can a Felon Vote in Missouri? (Updated)

The State of Missouri was the 24th territory to be a part of the United States of America. It’s capital’s population was 43,079 by the end of 2015.

Missouri’s inmate population by December 2015 was 32,330. 29,063 of these prisoners were male and the remaining 3,367 were female prisoners. This number made 75% of Missouri’s Capital Population.

The right to vote is a person’s voice in a democratic government. It is a citizen’s contribution to his country’s formation and operations. Through voting, a citizen participates in the making of his state and his country’s history.

Can Felons Vote in Missouri?

In Missouri, felon’s voting rights are temporarily suspended. These felons are ineligible to vote while serving prison time, awaiting parole, or under probation.

A convicted felon may only vote after he or she has been permanently discharged from the prison system. He may vote after he has completed all conditions of his parole or probation.

If every felon’s right to vote will be perpetually taken away from him, then how can pure democracy be achieved?

The right to vote is a citizen’s footprint on his nation’s history. One vote is one voice. If a felon’s vote will be permanently ceased by the government even after completing punishment, democracy won’t be achieved for not every citizen has spoken.

How Felons Can Restore Voting Rights in Missouri?

A felon can restore his voting rights once his sentence, including prison time, parole and terms of probation have been accomplished. He will need to re-register once again as a voter of Missouri.

Felons who have committed a crime or a misdemeanour violating the rightful exercise of the right of suffrage will be perpetually stripped off of this right. For these crimes, only when a pardon has been granted by state’s Governor can the felon be allowed to vote again.

Moreover, a pardon will only be granted by the Governor if the offender has been permanently discharged for three years from the prison system, he has not received a conviction within the three years period, he has no pending charges, and he was not denied Executive Clemency within the past three years.