The short answer is yes.
Kentucky is one of only three states that permanently bar felons from regaining their voting rights. Until July 15, the only way to have your voting rights restored is by getting a pardon from the Governor of Kentucky. You may recall that in his first weeks in office, Governor Bevin undid Governor Beshear’s executive order granting around 180,000 “non-violent who have completed their sentences” the right to vote. At this time, you must fill out a form, submit it to the Governor, and he has to approve it in order to get your right to vote back.
If you are convicted of an eligible Class D felony and a judge grants expungement of your felony record, then the record of your felony is deleted. You will no longer have to disclose that you are a convicted felon because, in the eyes of the law, you are not a felon. It will no longer be a crime to register to vote under KRS § 119.025 because you will be legally entitled to register to vote upon having your felony record expunged. As soon as your expungement is official, you may register to vote.
If you have any questions about restoring your voting rights after being convicted of a felony, do not hesitate to contact us. For a free evaluation to determine if you are eligible to have your right to vote restored, please visit Unconvicted.