Justice-impacted citizens & advocates on voting in prison & expanding access to the ballot
WHAT: The Sentencing Project, a nonprofit organization that advocates for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults, is hosting a webinar to discuss The Sentencing Project’s recent report Voting from Prison: Lessons from Maine and Vermont on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 1 PM EST.
WHO:
- Robert Barton – Executive Director, More Than Our Crimes
- Foster Bates – President, NAACP Maine State Prison & incarcerated citizen
- Kristen M. Budd, Moderator – Senior Research Analyst at The Sentencing Project and author of Voting From Prison
- Nick Deml – Former Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections
- Joseph Jackson – Executive Director, Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition and Co-Executive Director, Maine Inside Out
WHEN: Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 1 PM EST
WHERE: Virtual via Zoom
WHY:
A new report from The Sentencing Project, Voting from Prison: Lessons from Maine and Vermont, highlights that incarcerated citizens in Maine and Vermont still face significant barriers to casting a ballot. The report reveals a troubling disconnect: having the legal right to vote while incarcerated does not guarantee the ability to exercise that right. This webinar will explore key insights from the report, featuring perspectives from currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, advocates, reform leaders, and Department of Corrections staff, offering a deeper understanding of accessing democracy during incarceration.
The media are encouraged to attend. If you are interested in speaking with an expert from The Sentencing Project, please contact Janessa Sambola-Harris at [email protected]
About The Sentencing Project
The Sentencing Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing incarceration and addressing racial disparities in the criminal legal system. For over 35 years, the organization has advocated for effective policies and practices that promote a more equitable and humane justice system.

