Voting in Iowa After a Criminal Conviction

Most Iowans who have a felony conviction are eligible to vote once they have discharged their sentences, including probation, parole, supervised release, and special sentence.

You are eligible to vote in Iowa IF:

• Your charges were for a misdemeanor, including simple, serious, or aggravated. In Iowa, those charges don't affect your right to vote.
• If you have a felony conviction, you may vote if 1) you have discharged your sentence, meaning you’re not incarcerated, not on probation, parole, supervised release, or are subject to a special sentence, and 2) you were not convicted of any homicide felony under Iowa Code Chapter 707. But even if you had a homicide felony under Chapter 707, if you fully discharged your sentence on or before July 4, 2005, you can vote because of a governor's executive order at that time.

Current as of July 2026