Convicted Felons in Utah Have the Right to Vote*

Due to a misunderstanding of Utah law concerning voting rights, convicted felons, a minority group of Utahns, are being unwittingly disenfranchised.

The Personal Choice Party of Utah is currently attempting to register as many eligible Utah voters as possible at their party's Utah State Fair booth. During this event, it came to the attention of the Personal Choice Party of Utah that some of Utah’s convicted felons have been denied their right to register to vote in the past. The local Republican Party office assured a caller that convicted felons are ineligible to vote.

A cursory poll of local political party offices, school officials, news agencies and attorneys suggests that most are unaware of the facts. According to statute 20A-2-101.5*, the fact is that once a Utah convicted felon is no longer incarcerated, their voting rights are restored.

An advertisement run by the law office of Geoffery L. Clark, and most recently run on KTVX in the early morning hours suggest that convicted felons do not have the right to vote. Mr. Clark commented that his advertisement stands on solid ground but that the ad will no longer be running as a new advertisement is being produced.

When contacted by “Sarge” Froehle, the Lt. Governor’s office commented that they are aware of a potentially erroneous advertisement being run regarding a felon’s right to vote. And, confirmed that convicted felons, no longer incarcerated, do in fact have the right to vote in Utah. When asked if the office would be willing to post public service announcements informing felons of their right to vote, they responded that funding was not available at this time.

In an effort to increase voter turnout among apathetic and disenfranchised citizens, members of the Personal Choice Party are attempting to register as many voters from these groups as possible. This is an incredible challenge in a sociopolitical climate that supports ignorance of citizen’s rights. Party members and candidates are reaching out at the State Fair by informing the disenfranchised of their rights and by enticing them to register to vote. To accommodate this effort they are offering a chance to win an AQHA registered horse to all registered voters.
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* 20A-2-101.5 Convicted felons Restoration of right to vote.

(1) As used in this section "convicted felon" means a person convicted of a felony
      in a Utah state court.
(2) Each convicted felon's right to register to vote and to vote in an election is
      restored when:
      (a) the felon is sentenced to probation by the sentencing judge;
      (b) the felon is granted parole by the Board of Pardons; or
      (c) the felon has successfully completed the term of incarceration to which the
            felon was sentenced.


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