ST. LOUIS – With just five weeks until the 2024 presidential election, most U.S. citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote as long as they are registered. However, for some individuals, the right to vote may be more complicated due to a criminal conviction.
While no federal law directly prohibits convicted felons from voting, the authority to restrict such a situation falls with individual states. It’s not necessarily uncommon for states to govern if and when convicted felons can vote in elections.
Supporters may argue that allowing felons to vote is essential to ensure a more inclusive democracy. Critics, however, may argue that felons should forfeit their role in shaping politics due to their disregard for the law.
For the states of Missouri and Arkansas, are convicted felons allowed to vote in elections? For this year’s general election and beyond, make sure to keep these considerations in mind.
Missouri
The most recent statute in Missouri to address rules around convicted felons’ voting was amended in 2017.