Information for people in custody
Being in prison does not always mean you lose your right to vote in an election.
A common misunderstanding is that people in prison cannot vote. This is not always true.
We support eligible people in prison (sentenced or on remand) to understand their voting rights and take part in elections.
Your right to vote
Some people in prison are eligible to vote, depending on their sentence.
We work with prisons to help eligible people understand their rights and take part in elections.
Check your eligibility
People in prison must meet the same enrolment criteria as everyone else, as well as some extra criteria.
You can vote in an election if your top prison sentence is less than:
- 3 years for federal elections
- 5 years for state or local council elections.
If you are on parole, home detention or a community corrections order:
- you can vote in federal elections
- you can vote in state and local council elections if your sentence is less than 5 years.
What support is available
Prisons must provide facilities and information for eligible prisoners to enrol and vote in state and federal elections.
We work with Corrections Victoria to offer additional support to people in prison. This includes:
- Unlocking the Vote education program (available at eligible prisons)
- Easy English enrolment and voting guides
- accessible and inclusive voting options
- help to understand eligibility and voting rules
- support close to election time and year-round education
For more information about voting in prison, visit Corrections Victoria.
How we work with people in prison
Our work is guided by the Prisons and without a home education and engagement plan 2025–27 and advice from our Prisons and Without a Home Advisory Group. It includes people with a lived experience of incarceration.
We focus on:
- access
- knowledge and confidence
- relationships, visibility and representation.