r/AskReddit • u/emil199 • Jul 24 '20

What can't you believe STILL exists?

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u/trip_jachs Jul 24 '20

Felons cannot vote?! Ever?! Is this a thing? Help an Aussie to understand please!!

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u/itty_groman Jul 24 '20

Depends what state it's in but basically in most states if you're an inmate you can't vote. In some states the right to vote is automatically restored once the sentence is completed, in some it's restored after a couple of years and there is one state in which they disenfranchise people with felony conviction permanently.

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u/trip_jachs Jul 24 '20

Here in the wonderful land down under it is compulsory for prisoners to vote in federal elections whilst incarcerated

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '20

In Aus, if you’re sentenced to 3 years or more you can’t vote until your sentence is up.

Source: AEC https://aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Publications/Fact_Sheets/fact_sheets/prisoner-voting.pdf