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Can you vote with a felony in Vermont?

The short answer

Yes.

Vermont doesn't take away the right to vote for a felony conviction, even during a prison sentence.

In Vermont, a criminal conviction does not take away the right to vote. People who are incarcerated keep the right and vote by early voter absentee ballot, using their last voluntary residence rather than the prison as their voting address.1,2,3,4

Checked October 22, 2026 against 6 sources, starting with Vermont law, then by a second reader.

  1. In prison for a felonyCan vote1,2
  2. On paroleCan vote1
  3. On probationCan vote1
  4. Sentence completeCan vote1,2
Check with Vermont's election office

Before you register

Your state or county election office can confirm your own status, for free. Voting while ineligible can carry criminal penalties, so if anything about your case is unclear, ask them first. The general election is November 3, 2026; registration deadlines are on vote.gov.

How the right comes back

Never lost

No restoration is needed. Under 28 V.S.A. § 807(a), a person convicted of a crime "shall retain the right to vote" if they otherwise meet the voting requirements, and votes by early voter absentee ballot during commitment from their last voluntary residence. The Department of Corrections directive on inmate voting says facilities must provide basic information and assistance to incarcerated people who are qualified to vote.1,2

Fines, fees and restitution

Not required

Because a conviction does not take away the right to vote in Vermont, there is nothing to pay to get it back.1

Registering again

No need: the right isn't lost

Misdemeanors and jail

Neither felony nor misdemeanor convictions take away the right to vote; 28 V.S.A. § 807 applies to "a person who is convicted of a crime."1,3

No Vermont source opened takes away the right for being in custody. The Department of Corrections directive covers people convicted of a crime and does not separately address people held before trial.2

Convictions from another state or federal court

28 V.S.A. § 807 says a person convicted of a crime keeps the right to vote and does not distinguish where the conviction happened; the sources opened do not separately address Vermont residents held in federal or out-of-state custody.1

The law

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This page explains Vermont's general rules from its law and election office. It isn't legal advice, and a case can turn on the details of a sentence. The election office can confirm your status.

Spot something out of date? Tell us at contact@secondchanceindex.com.

Cite this page

Second Chance Index, "Can you vote with a felony in Vermont?" https://secondchanceindex.com/voting-rights/vermont, checked October 22, 2026.

Sources

Each source was opened and checked on October 22, 2026.

  1. 28 V.S.A. § 807
  2. Inmate Voting (Directive #324.01), effective June 1, 2017Vermont Department of Corrections
  3. 17 V.S.A. § 2121 (Eligibility of voters)Vermont General Assembly
  4. Constitution of the State of Vermont (including Chapter II, § 55)Vermont General Assembly
  5. Voter Registration (Vermont Secretary of State)
  6. Governor Phil Scott Formally Proclaims Constitutional Amendment Proposals 3 and 4 Will Appear on November Ballot (July 28, 2026)Office of the Governor of Vermont