Voting Rights Restoration

Voting Rights Restoration Guide


If you have been convicted of a felony, your eligibility to register and vote depends on the offense and the date of the conviction. Click here see whether you are eligible to register and vote.

  1. If you were convicted of a felony in Tennessee on or after May 18, 1981, you may regain your eligibility to vote if you have your conviction:
    • Expunged
    • Pardoned
    • or if you have your full rights of citizenship restored. Under Tennessee law, full rights of citizenship can be restored by petition to the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner resides, or to the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner was convicted. Contact information for Circuit Court Clerk’s offices across Tennessee can be found here.
  2. If your conviction has been expunged, you may register to vote and answer “No” when asked if you have a felony conviction on the voter registration form.
  3. If your conviction was pardoned or your full rights of citizenship have been restored:
    • You and an authorized individual may complete this Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights for each felony conviction, whether in Tennessee, another state, or at the federal level.
    • Authorized individuals who may complete the certificate include: a probation/parole officer, an agent of the pardoning authority, an agent or officer of the incarcerating authority, or an agent of the supervising authority.
  4. After the certificate(s) are completed, they must be submitted to the local county election commission office where you reside.
    • The Certificate(s) of Restoration of Voting Rights and the documents related to the pardon OR restoration of full citizenship rights must be submitted to Election Commission at the same time.
    • For Election Commission offices outside of Davidson County, click here.

      In Davidson County, certificates may be sent to

      Alexandria Mitchell
      800 President Ronald Reagan Way
      Nashville, TN 37210


      For questions about completed form(s) submitted to the Davidson County
      Election Commission, call 615-880-8800.

  5. Once your right to vote is restored, you may register to vote in Tennessee.
    • The local county election commission office where you reside must receive your Certificate(s) of Restoration of Voting Rights as well as your Voter Registration Application at least thirty (30) days prior to the next election for you to be eligible to vote in that election.

The Davidson County District Attorney’s Office is not acting as your attorney for voter restoration. This information is provided as a public service. For more information about this process, please call the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office at 1-877-850-4959 or visit their website.