Voting in Vermont

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Vermont:

See Election administration in Vermont for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

A United States citizen and state resident who is at least 18 years of age may register to vote in Vermont. The registrant must take the "Voter's Oath," which is included on the voter registration form.[1][2]

According to the secretary of state's website, "Beginning January 1, 2017, eligible persons may register to vote on any day up to and including the day of the election. Registration is available during all normal business hours of your town or city clerk's office on days preceding the election and during polling hours on Election Day. "[1]

In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Vermont, all polls must open by 10 a.m. All polls close at 7 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Vermont does not require voters to present identification while voting in most cases. However, first-time voters who registered by mail are required to present identification at the polls.[4]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Vermont Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

  • Valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
  • Current utility bill
  • Current bank statement
  • Another government document containing your residential address

Mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting and All-mail voting

For general elections, Vermont holds what are commonly referred to as all-mail elections, meaning that voting is conducting primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail. Election officials automatically distribute mail-in ballots to eligible electors in general elections. For primary elections, voters who wish to vote by mail must request a mail-in ballot.

Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

In Vermont, people convicted of a felony do not lose their franchise and may register to vote in the town or city in which they lived before their incarceration if incarceration is a part of their sentence.[5]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[6]

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Vermont can contact the following state and federal agencies.

Vermont Secretary of State, Elections Division

128 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05633-1101
Telephone: 802-828-2464
Email: sos.elections@sec.state.vt.us

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Noteworthy events

2021

On June 7, 2021, Governor Phil Scott (R) signed SB15 into law, enacting a series of changes to the state's election administration laws, including (but not limited to) the following:[7]

  • Requiring the secretary of state to deliver mail-in ballots to all active voters in every general election.
  • Authorizing the use of secure ballot drop boxes for the return of voted mail-in ballots.
  • Authorizing the use of outdoor polling places.
  • Authorizing the use of drive-up/drive-through voting (defined as procedures that "enable voters to complete the voting process without leaving their vehicle").

Upon signing the bill into law, Scott said, "I’m signing this bill because I believe making sure voting is easy and accessible, and increasing voter participation, is important. Having said that, we should not limit this expansion of access to general elections alone, which already have the highest voter turnout. For greater consistency and to expand access further, I am asking the General Assembly to extend the provisions of this bill to primary elections, local elections and school budget votes when they return to session in January."[8]

Enactment of SB15 made Vermont the sixth state to establish a program whereby election authorities sent mail-in ballots automatically to all active voters in select elections.[9]

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See also

Elections in Vermont


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vermont Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed April 20, 2023
  2. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 20, 2023
  3. ↑ Vermont State Legislature, “17 V.S.A. § 2561,” accessed April 20, 2023
  4. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Election Day FAQs," accessed April 20, 2023
  5. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 20, 2023
  6. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
  7. ↑ Vermont General Assembly, "S.15," accessed June 8, 2021
  8. ↑ Office of the Governor of Vermont, "ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT ON LEGISLATION - JUNE 7, 2021," June 7, 2021
  9. ↑ The Hill, "Vermont governor signs mail-in voting bill," June 8, 2021
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