Who Alaska Law Allows to Vote After a Felony Conviction
Alaskans who have completed their sentence and been unconditionally discharged from the Alaska Department of Corrections can vote again. That means once a person is no longer under DOC supervision, including probation, parole, halfway house placement, or sentenced electronic monitoring, their right to vote is restored.
Not every conviction triggers a voting ban. Only felony convictions involving a crime of moral turpitude, a legal category that includes murder, assault, and drug-related felonies, result in disenfranchisement. A misdemeanor conviction, or a felony that does not fall under moral turpitude, does not affect voting eligibility.
40% of Alaska’s Incarcerated Population Can Vote Right Now
Pre-trial detainees, roughly 40 percent of Alaska’s incarcerated population, are eligible to vote even while in custody. That includes anyone awaiting trial, a plea agreement, or sentencing. They have not been convicted, so their voting rights remain intact.
40% of Alaska’s incarcerated population is pre-trial and currently eligible to vote, according to the Alaska Beacon.
DOC probation officers at every correctional facility are required to help any inmate who asks with registration, address updates, or absentee ballot applications. Ballots are classified as “privileged mail,” which means they receive specific handling protections under state statute.
How to Restore Voting Rights After Discharge
The DOC is required to issue a letter confirming unconditional discharge. A person must present that letter to the Alaska Division of Elections to re-register. Registration can be checked or updated at myvoterportal.alaska.gov.
Upcoming deadlines matter. The primary registration deadline is July 19, 2026. Local election registration closes September 6. The general midterm deadline is October 4. Absentee-by-mail applications are due August 8 for the primary and October 24 for the general.
What You Can Do Now
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Check your registration status today at myvoterportal.alaska.gov. If you or someone you know has a felony record and has been unconditionally discharged from DOC supervision, re-registration with a discharge letter is all that is required. The primary deadline is July 19, 2026.
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Contact the Alaska Division of Elections at (907) 465-4611 to ask about re-registration requirements or to confirm your discharge letter qualifies. Staff can clarify which felony categories result in disenfranchisement and which do not.
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If you are currently incarcerated pre-trial, ask your facility’s probation officer for an absentee ballot application. DOC staff are required by state policy to assist with registration and absentee voting. The primary absentee application deadline is August 8, 2026.
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Share this information with returning citizens in Alaska. Organizations like the ACLU of Alaska can help people navigate the discharge letter process and confirm eligibility before registration deadlines pass.