Former president Donald Trump has made history by being found guilty of 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records, making him a convicted felon. This has sparked questions about whether a felon can run for president in the United States.
The US Constitution outlines the eligibility requirements for a presidential candidate. The Constitution states that a candidate must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of the United States, and have been a resident of the country for at least 14 years. Even if a candidate is a convicted felon and imprisoned at the time of the election, they are still eligible to run for office.
In terms of voting rights for felons, 48 states in the US bar citizens over the age of 18 who are convicted of a felony from voting in some capacity. However, Maine and Vermont allow convicted felons to retain their right to vote. In 13 states and Washington DC, voting rights are automatically restored once a felon is released from prison.
In certain states, voting rights for felons are restored upon completion of their sentence, including prison, parole, and probation. However, in states like Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, and Virginia, felons must file a petition or application to have their voting rights restored.
While no United States president has ever gone to jail or been convicted of a felony, Trump faces sentencing options ranging from a fine to a prison term of one to four years. His sentencing is set to take place on July 11, 2024.
