Americans broadly support restoring the right to vote after a sentence is served
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted March 6-16, 2026, 83% say people with past criminal convictions should be eligible to vote: 65% only after they have completed their sentence, and 18% even while they are serving one.
Relatively few (9%) say people with convictions should not be eligible, and 8% take no position either way.
Topline distribution
Americans broadly support restoring the right to vote after a sentence is served.
In general, do you think people with past criminal convictions should be eligible to vote?
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Module 5: Health, Community, & Personal Values |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
In general, do you think people with past criminal convictions should be eligible to vote?
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.