Most say felons should regain the vote after serving their sentence

Jan 18–24, 2024 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.5%Source report ↗

Core finding

Nearly four-in-ten Americans (38%) say people should be able to vote once they have completed their sentence and paid their debt to society, meaning after finishing jail, prison, or probation, according to a January 2024 Verasight survey of 3,000 U.S. adults.

Another 25% say people should always be able to vote, even when in jail or prison, and about as many would restore the vote once people leave jail or prison and are once again tax-paying members of society. Just 11% say people convicted of a felony should permanently lose the right to vote.

Topline distribution

Most say felons should regain the vote after serving their sentence.

As you may know, in some states, convicted felons permanently lose their right to vote, while in others they can vote even while in prison or on probation. Which of the following comes closest to your view on this policy?

People should be able to vote once they have completed their sentence and paid their debt to society (that is, after completing jail, prison, or probation)
38.0%
People should always be able to vote, even when in jail or prison
25.3%
People should be able to vote once they leave jail or prison and are once again tax-paying members of society
25.2%
People should permanently lose their right to vote if they are convicted of a felony
11.4%

n = 1,000 · Jan 18–24, 2024 · MoE ±3.5%

ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUnited States adults
Field datesJan 18–24, 2024
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.5%
ModuleVerasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    Which of the following comes closest to your view on this policy?

    www.verasight.io/post/verasights-supports-academic-and-nonprofit-researchers

Cite this question

Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006, fielded January 18-24, 2024, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.5%.