With the presidential election quickly approaching, you may be wondering about your right to vote. While voting is a constitutional right guaranteed to all U.S. citizens, law makers in Colorado have made it illegal for certain people to vote. That’s right, it can be a class 5 felony to vote in certain situations. If you have a criminal record and are wondering about your ability to vote, you have come to the right place. Let’s look at some frequently asked questions about criminal convictions and voting rights.
Can a Person Who is Incarcerated Vote in Fort Collins?
Yes and no. It depends on the type of incarceration. If a person is in Larimer, Boulder, or Grand County Jail serving a sentence for a misdemeanor conviction, they still have the right to vote. Also, if a person is incarcerated in a Colorado county jail prior to trial or sentencing, they can vote. As an incarcerated person, you will have to register with the jail’s address and get a mail-in ballot.
If a person is serving a sentence for a felony conviction in the Colorado Department of Corrections or the Larimer County Jail, they are not eligible to vote. This would include a person who has been released from DOC, but is still serving a parole sentence. In Colorado, parole is still a part of a prison sentence, so even though the person serving the parole sentence is out in the community, it is illegal for them to vote.
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Can a Person Who is on Probation Vote in Loveland?
Yes, probation is a community based sentence given as an alternative to incarceration. This means anyone on probation for a misdemeanor or felony conviction can register and cast their vote.
Can a Person with a Colorado Criminal Conviction on Their Record Vote?
Yes, as long as the person is not currently serving a prison, detention or parole sentence, they are eligible to vote. If a person served 4 years in the Department of Corrections for a felony conviction, like Second Degree Assault, and then subsequently was successfully discharged from parole, they would be permitted to register to vote immediately after they completed their parole stint.
Does a Person Have to Prove They Competed Their Sentence in Order to Vote?
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and throughout Colorado there is a database that identifies people who are under supervision. If a person’s name is mistakenly on that list even after they have served their prison and parole sentence, they may get a letter of stating they are not eligible to register to vote. If this happens, the person can respond and may be required to provide some documentation (like a copy of their parole discharge papers) to clear up the error.