Can Trump still vote as a convicted felon?
While the guilty verdict in former President Trump’s hush money trial will make him the first major party nominee to be a convicted felon, he will likely still be able to vote in his home state of Florida in November.
Each state has its own laws for determining voter eligibility for those who have been convicted of a felony, but both Florida’s and New York’s laws are relevant for determining Trump’s eligibility because Trump’s residence is in Florida and his hush money trial took place in New York.
If a defendant is convicted of a crime in Florida, they must fully complete their sentence, including any prison time, probation and parole, before their voting rights are restored, according to the nonprofit U.S. Vote Foundation. They also must fully pay any restitution, fines or fees.
But if a Florida resident is convicted of a felony in another state, they will lose their voter eligibility if such a conviction would make them ineligible to vote in the state where they were convicted.
A New York state law passed in 2021 provides that people convicted of a felony in New York only lose their voter eligibility if they are serving prison time for a felony, according to the New York State Board of Elections. Their right to vote is restored upon release from incarceration, even if they are still on parole or have some form of postrelease supervision.
Voter eligibility is not suspended for those with a felony conviction in the state who are not incarcerated.
Even if Trump is convicted at his sentencing, he is highly likely to appeal the ruling, which will lead to an extended appeals process.
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A spokesperson for the state election board told PolitiFact that those with felonies whose prison sentences have been stayed while the appeals play out also would not lose their voting eligibility.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention at which he is set to officially become the GOP nominee. He could receive a prison sentence, but first-time offenders for the types of charges Trump was convicted on typically do not serve time in prison.
Trump would only not be permitted to vote if he is serving time in prison during the voting period for the election.
The presumptive Republican nominee was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with payments made to try to keep alleged affairs quiet in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.
He is the first former president to be convicted of a felony.
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