Vermont is one of only two states in the country -- along with Maine -- where incarcerated people retain the right to vote. Under Vermont law (28 V.S.A. §807), any person convicted of a crime retains the right to vote by early voter absentee ballot in primary and general elections, registered at their last voluntary residence before incarceration. You cannot use the correctional facility as your address, but your voting rights are never suspended or taken away. You vote while incarcerated.
Vermont is also one of six states with a unified corrections system -- there are no separate county jails. Vermont DOC (VDOC) operates all adult correctional facilities statewide.
Vermont received CMS approval on July 2, 2024 for a 1115 Medicaid reentry waiver to provide pre-release Medicaid services to sentenced incarcerated individuals in the 90 days before release. Implementation was in design phase as of mid-2024; confirm current operational status with your VDOC case manager or at Vermont Health Connect.
Vermont has no drug conviction SNAP ban.
Here is how the system works and what you need to do.
Voting Rights in Vermont: You Vote While Incarcerated
Vermont is one of only two states -- alongside Maine -- where people who are incarcerated retain the right to vote. Under 28 V.S.A. §807, you retain the right to vote by early voter absentee ballot in primary and general elections. Your registration is at your last voluntary residence before incarceration, not at the correctional facility.
How to vote from a Vermont correctional facility: Request an absentee ballot from your town clerk, registered at your last voluntary residential address. Vermont DOC has an Inmate Voting Directive (available through VDOC) that establishes the process for requesting absentee ballots inside facilities. Contact your VDOC case manager or facility staff to initiate the absentee voting process before an election.
If you are already released: Re-register or confirm your registration at mvp.vermont.gov. Contact Vermont Legal Aid (vtlegalaid.org) or the Vermont Secretary of State's office (sos.vermont.gov) if you have questions.
Vermont's Unified Corrections System
Vermont is one of six states (with Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, and Rhode Island) with a unified corrections system -- there are no separate county jails. Vermont DOC (VDOC, doc.vermont.gov) operates all six adult correctional facilities statewide. As of 2025, approximately 1,542 people are incarcerated in Vermont state prisons (including one out-of-state facility).
Vermont DOC Commissioner Nick Deml hosted a reentry simulation in May 2025 in which state prison staff, human services employees, lawmakers, judicial officials, and community providers walked through the reentry process. His assessment: "The system as it's built today forces individuals to jump through hoops that many of us in this room would struggle through, even in the best of circumstances." About 95% of incarcerated Vermonters will one day leave prison. The simulation was designed to build system-wide understanding of where barriers exist.
What VDOC Provides at Release
The Vermont Department of Corrections (VDOC, doc.vermont.gov) provides reentry and community supervision services. VDOC's mission is to create safety and equity by seeing potential, supporting change, and serving communities.
Regarding ID documents before release: Ask your VDOC case manager or reentry staff directly whether the facility provides assistance with state ID, driver's license, Social Security card, or birth certificate processing before release. Confirm the status of each document -- do not assume these have been initiated. Vermont's May 2025 reentry simulation specifically highlighted ID document acquisition as one of the most difficult barriers returning citizens face.
Post-conviction legal assistance: Vermont's Prisoners' Rights Office (PRO), which is part of the Office of the Defender General, employs one supervising attorney, four staff attorneys, three investigators, and one legal assistant. The PRO provides post-conviction legal representation for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals and people on probation or parole in Vermont.
Getting Your Vermont State ID or Driver's License
Vermont state IDs and driver's licenses are issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV, dmv.vermont.gov).
If your ID was not processed before release, visit any Vermont DMV location. You will need documents establishing your identity, Social Security number, and Vermont residency. Standard documents include a birth certificate or passport, your Social Security card, and proof of a Vermont address. Your VDOC release documentation serves as a supporting identity document.
Getting Your Social Security Card
If your Social Security card was not obtained before release, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, apply online at ssa.gov, or visit your nearest SSA office. Replacement cards are free. Bring your state ID and birth certificate.
Ask your case manager whether your facility has a prerelease SSA agreement allowing the card replacement and benefit application process to begin up to 90 days before release.
Getting Your Birth Certificate
If you were born in Vermont, request a certified copy from the Vermont Department of Health Vital Records at healthvermont.gov or by calling (802) 863-7275. The fee is currently $10 per copy -- one of the lowest in the country.
If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office. Start this process early -- out-of-state requests can take time and delay your ID process.
Vermont Medicaid
Vermont expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Low-income adults who meet income requirements are generally eligible. Vermont Medicaid is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA, dvha.vermont.gov). Apply at Vermont Health Connect (healthconnect.vermont.gov) or call 1-855-899-9600.
Vermont 1115 Reentry Waiver: Vermont received CMS approval on July 2, 2024 for a 1115 Medicaid reentry waiver to provide pre-release Medicaid services to sentenced incarcerated individuals in the 90 days before release. Vermont is one of three states (with Rhode Island and Utah) that proposed offering eligible incarcerated individuals their full Medicaid plan benefits, rather than just minimum required services.
As of mid-2024, Vermont DOC and the Department of Vermont Health Access were in the design phase for the new program, with plans to engage care managers from the Vermont Chronic Care Initiative to help manage medical care for reentry. Confirm the current operational status of the Vermont reentry waiver at dvha.vermont.gov or with your VDOC case manager.
SNAP: Food Assistance
Vermont has no drug conviction SNAP ban. People with drug felony convictions are eligible for SNAP in Vermont subject to standard income and eligibility requirements.
Apply for SNAP through the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) at dcf.vermont.gov or by calling 1-800-479-6151.
Vermont Reentry Resources
Vermont DOC (doc.vermont.gov): Reentry and community supervision; six adult correctional facilities; absentee voting process; Inmate Voting Directive; reentry case managers.
Vermont Prisoners' Rights Office (PRO, defgen.vermont.gov): One supervising attorney, four staff attorneys, three investigators; post-conviction legal representation for incarcerated individuals and people on probation/parole in Vermont.
Vermont Medicaid / DVHA (dvha.vermont.gov; healthconnect.vermont.gov; 1-855-899-9600): Medicaid applications; expanded eligibility for low-income adults; 1115 reentry waiver (confirm current status).
Vermont Agency of Human Services / SNAP (dcf.vermont.gov; 1-800-479-6151): SNAP applications; no drug conviction ban.
Vermont DMV (dmv.vermont.gov): State ID and driver's license.
Vermont Department of Health Vital Records (healthvermont.gov; 802-863-7275): Birth certificates; $10 per copy.
Vermont Legal Aid (vtlegalaid.org): Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income Vermonters, including benefit access, housing rights, and reentry matters.
Legal Services Vermont (legalservicesvt.org): Civil legal assistance for eligible Vermont residents.
Vermont Secretary of State (sos.vermont.gov; mvp.vermont.gov): Voter registration and absentee ballot information.
211 Vermont (vermont211.org; dial 211): Statewide referrals to housing, food, health, and social services.
Social Security Administration (ssa.gov; 1-800-772-1213): SSI and SSDI applications; SSA Reentry Benefits at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm.
Frequently asked questions
Can I vote while incarcerated in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont is one of only two states -- with Maine -- where incarcerated people retain their voting rights. Under 28 V.S.A. §807, you have the right to vote by early voter absentee ballot in primary and general elections, registered at your last voluntary residential address before incarceration. You cannot use the correctional facility as your address, but your right to vote is never suspended. Ask your VDOC case manager or facility staff to initiate the absentee ballot process before an election. Vermont DOC has an Inmate Voting Directive that establishes the process for in-facility voting.
What makes Vermont's corrections system unique?
Vermont is one of six states with a unified corrections system -- there are no separate county jails. Vermont DOC operates all six adult correctional facilities statewide. This means reentry planning, Medicaid coordination, SNAP enrollment, and voting access all flow through one state agency. Vermont is also one of only two states (with Maine) where incarcerated individuals retain the right to vote. Vermont's incarcerated population is approximately 1,542 people in state prisons as of 2025.
Does VDOC help with ID documents before release?
Vermont DOC provides reentry and community supervision services. For state ID, driver's license, Social Security card, and birth certificate assistance, ask your VDOC case manager directly about what document processing is initiated before release and confirm the status of each. Vermont's May 2025 reentry simulation highlighted ID document acquisition as one of the most significant barriers returning citizens face. DOC Commissioner Nick Deml acknowledged that the system currently "forces individuals to jump through hoops" even for basic documents.
What is Vermont's Medicaid reentry waiver?
Vermont received CMS approval on July 2, 2024 for a 1115 Medicaid reentry waiver to provide pre-release Medicaid services to sentenced incarcerated individuals in the 90 days before release. Vermont is one of three states (with Rhode Island and Utah) that proposed offering eligible individuals their full Medicaid plan benefits. As of mid-2024, Vermont DOC and the Department of Vermont Health Access were in the design phase, planning to use care managers from the Vermont Chronic Care Initiative for reentry medical coordination. Confirm the current operational status of the program at dvha.vermont.gov or with your VDOC case manager.
Can I get Medicaid after prison in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont expanded Medicaid and low-income adults are generally eligible. Apply at healthconnect.vermont.gov or call 1-855-899-9600. Vermont also has an approved CMS 1115 reentry waiver to provide pre-release Medicaid services 90 days before release -- confirm whether implementation at your facility has begun. Medicaid is suspended during incarceration under standard federal rules but resumes upon release for eligible individuals.
Can I get SNAP benefits after prison in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont has no drug conviction SNAP ban. People with drug felony convictions are eligible for SNAP subject to standard income and eligibility requirements. Apply through Vermont AHS at dcf.vermont.gov or call 1-800-479-6151.
How do I get my birth certificate in Vermont?
If you were born in Vermont, request a certified copy from the Vermont Department of Health Vital Records at healthvermont.gov or by calling (802) 863-7275. The current fee is $10 per copy -- one of the lowest in the country. Ask your VDOC case manager whether the facility can assist with this before release. If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office early -- out-of-state requests take time.
How do I replace my Social Security card in Vermont?
Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213, apply online at ssa.gov, or visit your nearest SSA office. Replacement cards are free. Bring your state ID and birth certificate. Ask your case manager whether your facility has a prerelease SSA agreement allowing this to begin up to 90 days before release. SSA reentry benefits information is at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm.
What benefits can I apply for after release in VT?
Vermont Medicaid at healthconnect.vermont.gov (1-855-899-9600) for low-income adults -- apply immediately if not enrolled through pre-release process. Vermont 1115 reentry waiver services if implemented at your facility -- confirm through your case manager. SNAP at dcf.vermont.gov (1-800-479-6151) -- no drug conviction ban. SSI or SSDI through SSA (1-800-772-1213) if you qualify through age or disability. Veterans' benefits through the VA if applicable. 211 Vermont (dial 211 or vermont211.org) for statewide referrals.
What reentry resources does Vermont DOC provide?
Vermont DOC (doc.vermont.gov) provides reentry and community supervision services through six adult correctional facilities statewide; an Inmate Voting Directive facilitating absentee ballot voting; reentry case managers for discharge planning. Vermont's Prisoners' Rights Office (PRO, defgen.vermont.gov) provides post-conviction legal representation with four staff attorneys and three investigators. Vermont Legal Aid (vtlegalaid.org) and Legal Services Vermont (legalservicesvt.org) provide free civil legal help. Vermont Medicaid 1115 reentry waiver (confirm current status at dvha.vermont.gov). 211 Vermont (vermont211.org, dial 211) provides statewide referrals. ---
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