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Arizona Civil Rights Restoration Guide (§§ 13-907, 13-908)

Last updated May 2026. Reflects HB2119 (eff. Sept 24, 2022) and State v. Begay (2026).

What civil rights restoration means

A felony conviction in Arizona automatically suspends three civil rights:

• The right to vote
• The right to serve on a jury
• The right to hold public office

"Civil rights restoration" is the legal process of getting these three rights back. Note that firearm rights are NOT included in civil rights restoration — those are governed by a separate statute, § 13-910, with different eligibility rules.

The big change: HB2119 (2022)

Before September 24, 2022, every Arizona felon had to file an application under § 13-908 to restore civil rights. This was time-consuming, occasionally bureaucratically frustrating, and many people simply never did it — meaning they remained disenfranchised long after their sentences ended.

HB2119 changed that. The law amended § 13-907 to make civil rights restoration automatic for first-time AZ felons at the moment of probation discharge or absolute discharge from prison. No application needed, no court filing, no fee.

If you are a first-time AZ felon and your probation was discharged on or after September 24, 2022, your civil rights are already restored as a matter of law. You don't need to file anything to vote — register normally.

When you DO need to apply

Section 13-907 auto-restoration only applies to first-time AZ felons. The following situations still require an application under § 13-908:

• You have two or more felony convictions (any state)
• Your conviction was in another state or in federal court
• Your discharge was before September 24, 2022 and you never applied
• You're unsure whether auto-restoration occurred and want a Certificate of Restoration as proof

Section 13-908 application process

For petitioners who don't qualify for auto-restoration, § 13-908 provides the application path:

§ 13-908(A): Multiple AZ felonies

If you have two or more Arizona felony convictions, file in the convicting court (the Superior Court of the county where the most recent conviction occurred). HB2119 also removed the prior 2-year waiting period for § 13-908(A) — you can apply immediately upon discharge from your most recent sentence.

§ 13-908(B): Out-of-state or federal conviction

If your conviction was in another state or in federal court, file in the Superior Court of your Arizona county of residence. The convicting court is irrelevant for jurisdiction.

State v. Begay (2026) and the discharge date

A 2026 Arizona Supreme Court decision, State v. Begay, clarified an important point about timing: the trigger date for auto-restoration is the end of probation, not the date of any later certificate or paperwork. If you're unsure about your discharge date, request a copy of your Order of Discharge from your probation officer or the Adult Probation Department.

The Certificate of Restoration

Even when auto-restoration applies, some employers, professional licensing boards, and government agencies want documentation. You can request a Certificate of Restoration of Civil Rights from the convicting court — this serves as formal proof. Effective May 2026, Arizona courts began automatically issuing these certificates for auto-restored petitioners.

What civil rights restoration does NOT do

• Does NOT restore firearm rights — that's § 13-910, separate process
• Does NOT vacate or set aside the conviction — that's § 13-905
• Does NOT seal the record — that's § 13-911
• Does NOT erase the conviction for sentencing-enhancement purposes
• Does NOT affect federal civil rights (e.g., federal jury service)