Vermont: Do you need an ID to vote?
Vermont doesn't require ID at the polls; voters state their name and are checked off the voter list.
Voters give their name, and their address if asked, and a poll worker checks them off the town checklist. The only exception is a first-time voter in the town who registered by mail or online and whose ID number the state could not verify; that voter must show a document such as a photo ID, utility bill, or bank statement, or fill out a new registration application. A 2026 bill to require ID for all voters (H.670) was referred to committee and has not advanced.
What the law says
Before a person may be admitted to vote, he or she shall announce his or her name and, if requested, his or her place of residence in a clear and audible tone of voice, or present his or her name in writing, or otherwise identify himself or herself by appropriate documentation. ... If the voter is not a first-time voter in the municipality, no identification shall be required. The clerk shall place a check next to the voter’s name on the checklist and allow the voter to proceed to the voting booth for the purpose of voting.
Sources
- 17 V.S.A. § 2563 Official · legislature.vermont.gov
- Vermont Legislature, H.670 (2026) bill status Official · legislature.vermont.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Vermont Secretary of State, Elections Division
- Phone
- 802-828-2363
- Website
- sos.vermont.gov
How bordering states compare
- Massachusetts No ID document requiredMassachusetts does not require most in-person voters to show ID. A voter who is asked for ID and has none can still vote.
- New Hampshire Photo ID requiredNew Hampshire requires photo ID to vote, with no provisional ballot. A voter without ID votes only if an election official verifies their identity.
- New York No ID document requiredMost New York voters do not show ID at the polls; they give their name and address and sign the poll book.