17 V.S.A. § 2381 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2381
§ 2381. Applicability of subchapter
Status: in_force

(a) A candidate may also be nominated and have the candidate's name printed on the general election ballot in accordance with the provisions set forth in this subchapter, in the following instances:

(1) In case of a vacancy on the general election ballot occasioned by death, removal, or withdrawal of a candidate, or the failure of a major political party to nominate a candidate by primary;

(2) In case a minor political party desires to nominate a candidate for any office for which major political parties nominate candidates by primary or for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States; or

(3) In case of nomination for the office of justice of the peace, in the event that such nomination has not already been made by caucus as provided in section 2413 of this chapter.

(b) In no event may any committee nominate a candidate or candidates for statewide office under this subchapter unless the political party has town committees organized in at least 10 towns in this State in accordance with procedures in chapter 45 of this title.

(c) In no event shall a candidate who loses a major party primary be nominated to appear on the general election ballot pursuant to this subchapter by a committee of any party other than the party for which the candidate appeared on the primary ballot.
17 V.S.A. § 2655 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2655
§ 2655. Time of meeting
Status: in_force

Annual municipal business meetings shall begin at the time set by the legislative body, unless the municipality has voted otherwise at a preceding meeting.
17 V.S.A. § 2925 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2925
§ 2925. Political committees; surplus campaign funds
Status: in_force

(a) A member of a political committee or an independent expenditure-only political committee that has surplus funds after all campaign debts have been paid shall not convert the surplus to personal use.

(b) Surplus funds in a political committee's account shall be:

(1) contributed to other candidates, political parties, or political committees subject to the contribution limits set forth in this chapter;

(2) contributed to a charity;

(3) contributed to the Secretary of State Services Fund; or

(4) liquidated using a combination of the provisions set forth in subdivisions (1)-(3) of this subsection.

(c) The “final report” of a political committee shall indicate the amount of the surplus and how it has been liquidated.
17 V.S.A. § 2704 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2704
§ 2704. Ballots
Status: in_force

A person voting at the primary shall be required to ask for the ballot of the party in which the voter wishes to vote and an election official shall record the voter's choice of ballot by marking the entrance checklist with a letter code, as designated by the Secretary of State, to indicate the voter's party choice. The names of all candidates on the ballot shall be listed in alphabetical order. Each voter may vote for one candidate for the presidential nomination of one party, either by placing a mark opposite the printed name of a candidate as in other primaries, or by writing in the name of the candidate of the voter's choice.
17 V.S.A. § 2311 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 45 / Section 2311
§ 2311. Certification of county officers and State committee members
Status: in_force

(a) Within 72 hours of the first meeting of the county committee, its chair and secretary shall submit to the chair of the State committee a copy of the notice calling the meeting and a certified list of the names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and emails of the officers of the county committee and of the members elected by the county committee to the State committee.

(b) A committee is not considered organized until a certificate of organization is filed by the State committee with the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2313 of this chapter.

(c) The Secretary of State shall prescribe and furnish forms for this purpose.
17 V.S.A. § 2661 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2661
§ 2661. Reconsideration or rescission of vote
Status: in_force

(a) A warned article voted on at an annual or special meeting of a municipality shall not be submitted to the voters for reconsideration or rescission at the same meeting after the assembly has begun consideration of another article. If the voters have begun consideration of another article, the original article may only be submitted to the voters at a subsequent annual or special meeting duly warned for the purpose and called by the legislative body on its own motion or pursuant to a petition requesting such reconsideration or rescission signed and submitted in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. A vote taken at an annual or special meeting shall remain in effect unless rescinded or amended.

(b) If a petition requesting reconsideration or rescission of a question considered or voted on at a previous annual or special meeting is filed with the clerk of the municipality within 30 days following the date of that meeting, the legislative body shall provide for a vote by the municipality in accordance with the petition within 60 days of the submission at an annual or special meeting duly warned for that purpose. The number of signatures required for a petition for reconsideration or rescission shall be not less than five percent of the registered voters unless the voters of the municipality increase that percentage pursuant to the following:

(1) At a meeting duly warned for the purpose, the voters of a municipality may require that a petition for reconsideration be signed by a percentage of registered voters that is not less than five percent nor greater than 20 percent.

(2) A vote to increase the percentage of voters required to sign a petition for reconsideration or rescission to up to 20 percent shall be in substantially the following form: “Shall the (name of municipality) increase the percentage of voters required on a petition for reconsideration or rescission from five to (up to 20) percent?”

(3) Once the voters of a municipality have voted to require a new percentage, that percentage shall remain in effect until the voters of the municipality vote to change the percentage.

(c) A question voted on shall not be presented for reconsideration or rescission at more than one subsequent meeting within a one-year period, except with the approval of the legislative body.

(d) For a vote by Australian ballot:

(1) The form of the ballot shall be as follows: “Article 1: [cite the article to be reconsidered as lastly voted].”

(2) Absentee ballots for the reconsideration or rescission vote shall be sent to any voter who requested an absentee ballot for the initial vote on the article to be reconsidered or rescinded, whether or not a separate request for an absentee ballot for the reconsideration or rescission vote is submitted by the voter.

(e) A majority vote in favor of reconsideration or rescission of a question voted on by paper or Australian ballot shall not be effective unless the number of votes cast in favor of reconsideration or rescission exceeds two-thirds of the number of votes cast for the prevailing side at the original meeting unless the voters of the municipality approve a different percentage pursuant to the following:

(1) At a meeting duly warned for the purpose, the voters of a municipality may require that a vote in favor of reconsideration or rescission shall not be effective unless the number of votes cast in favor of reconsideration or rescission exceeds a certain percentage of the number of votes cast for the prevailing side at the original meeting.

(2) A vote to increase or decrease the percentage shall be in substantially the following form: “Shall the (name of municipality) change the percentage of votes cast in favor of reconsideration or rescission required for a vote to reconsider or rescind a question considered or voted on at a previous annual or special meeting to be effective to (percentage)?”

(3) Once the voters of a municipality have voted to require a new percentage, that percentage shall remain in effect until the voters of the municipality vote to change the percentage.

(f) A municipality shall not reconsider a vote to elect a local officer.

(g) This section shall not apply to nonbinding advisory articles, which shall not be subject to reconsideration or rescission.
17 V.S.A. § 2945 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2945
§ 2945. Accepting contributions
Status: in_force

(a) A candidate, political committee, independent expenditure-only political committee, or political party accepts a contribution when the contribution is deposited in the candidate's, committee's, or party's campaign account or five business days after the candidate, committee, or party receives it, whichever comes first.

(b) A candidate, political committee, independent expenditure-only political committee, or political party shall not accept a monetary contribution in excess of $100.00 unless made by check, credit or debit card, or other electronic transfer.
17 V.S.A. § 2731 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2731
§ 2731. Certificates of election
Status: in_force

When the canvassing committee provided for in section 2592 of this title meets, it shall issue its certificates of election, with respect to the presidential election, to the electors nominated by the party whose candidate for President has received the greatest number of votes, except that if the agreement set forth in chapter 58 of this title (agreement among the states to elect the President by national popular vote) governs the appointment of presidential electors as provided in subsection 2753(i) of this title, the committee shall issue its certificates of election, with respect to the presidential election, to the electors nominated in association with the national popular vote winner as provided in subsection 2753(c) of this title.
17 V.S.A. § 2122 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2122
§ 2122. Residence; special cases; checklist
Status: in_force

(a) A person shall not gain or lose a residence solely by reason of presence or absence while in the service of the State or of the United States; nor while engaged in the navigation of the waters of the State or of the United States or on the high seas; nor while in a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility; nor while confined in a prison or correctional institution; nor while a member of a veterans' home; nor while a student at any educational institution; nor while living outside the United States; nor while certified as a participant in the address confidentiality program under 15 V.S.A. chapter 21, subchapter 3.

(b) A person may have his or her name on the checklist only in the town of which the person is a resident. For the purpose of this chapter, “resident” shall mean a person who is domiciled in the town as evidenced by an intent to maintain a principal dwelling place in the town indefinitely and to return there if temporarily absent, coupled with an act or acts consistent with that intent. If a person removes to another town with the intention of remaining there indefinitely, that person shall be considered to have lost residence in the town in which the person originally resided even though the person intends to return at some future time. However, a person shall retain the ability to vote in a town of former residence for a period of 17 days after becoming a resident of a new town. A person may have only one residence at a given time.
17 V.S.A. § 2607 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2607
§ 2607. Canvassing committee
Status: in_force

The canvassing committee for State and national offices shall meet at 10:00 a.m. one week after the day of election to certify the results of the presidential primary. The chair of each major political party shall be given a copy of the official certificate of votes for the election.
17 V.S.A. § 2684 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2684
§ 2684. Time and place of recount; notice
Status: in_force

The clerk shall fix the time and place for a recount for not less than two nor more than five days from the time the petition is received, and shall promptly notify the opposing candidates and the board of civil authority.
17 V.S.A. § 2508 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2508
§ 2508. Campaigning during polling hours; voter access
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The presiding officer shall ensure during polling hours on the day of the election that:

(A) within the building containing a polling place, no campaign literature, stickers, buttons, name stamps, information on write-in candidates, or other political materials that display the name of a candidate on the ballot or an organized political party or that demonstrate support or opposition to a question on the ballot are displayed, placed, handed out, or allowed to remain;

(B) within the building containing a polling place, no candidate, election official, or other person distributes election materials, solicits voters regarding an item or candidate on the ballot, or otherwise campaigns; and

(C) on the walks and driveways leading to a building in which a polling place is located, no candidate or other person physically interferes with the progress of a voter to and from the polling place.

(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to the town clerk's office during any period of early or absentee voting.

(b) During polling hours, the presiding officer shall control the placement of signs on the property of the polling place in a fair manner.

(c) The provisions of this section shall be posted in the notice required by section 2521 of this chapter.
17 V.S.A. § 2101 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 41 / Section 2101
§ 2101. Purposes
Status: in_force

This title is intended to carry out the mandate contained in Article 8 of Chapter I of the Constitution of the State of Vermont. In this pursuit, the specific purposes of this title are:

(1) to provide equal opportunity for all citizens of voting age to participate in political processes;

(2) to assure that political campaigns are fairly and honestly conducted and financed;

(3) to define unacceptable conduct among political candidates and public servants;

(4) to ensure that public service will be in the public interest, rather than the special interest of groups or individuals;

(5) to encourage citizens to become more actively involved in the political processes that affect the quality of life; and

(6) to provide uniform practices and procedures in the conduct of elections throughout the State.
17 V.S.A. § 1848 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 32 / Section 1848
§ 1848. Tabulation of returns; record of amendments
Status: in_force

The Governor and Secretary of State shall, on the second Tuesday of December, of the year in which a vote on ratification of an article of amendment is taken, open and tabulate the returns made under section 1843 of this chapter; and if it appears therefrom that the article of amendment has been ratified and adopted by a majority of the voters voting thereon, the amendment shall be enrolled on the parchment and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State as a part of the Constitution of this State and shall, in all future official revisions of the laws, be published in immediate connection therewith.
17 V.S.A. § 2981 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2981
§ 2981. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Affidavit” means the Vermont campaign finance affidavit required under section 2982 of this chapter.

(2) “General election period” means the period beginning the day after the primary election and ending the day of the general election.

(3) “Primary election period” means the period beginning the day after primary petitions must be filed under section 2356 of this title and ending the day of the primary election.

(4) “Vermont campaign finance qualification period” means the period beginning February 15 of each even-numbered year and ending on the date on which primary petitions must be filed under section 2356 of this title.
17 V.S.A. § 1840 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 32 / Section 1840
§ 1840. Interim publication
Status: in_force

Within 90 days following adjournment without day of any session of the General Assembly in which articles of amendment to the Constitution have been proposed by the Senate and concurred in by the House, the Secretary of State shall prepare copies of the proposal or proposals of amendment and forward them, with a summary of proposed changes, for publication in at least two newspapers having general circulation in the State, as determined by the Secretary of State. The proposal or proposals shall be so published once each week for three successive weeks in each of the papers at the expense of the State and on the websites of the General Assembly and the Office of the Secretary of State.
17 V.S.A. § 2602k — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2602k
§ 2602k. Recount ties
Status: repealed

(a)(1) If a recount of a primary election results in a tie, the provisions of subsection 2369(b) of this title shall apply.

(2) If a recount of a public question results in a tie, a runoff election shall not be held, and the question shall be certified not to have passed.

(3) If a recount of a general election results in a tie, the provisions of this section shall apply, and the court shall order a runoff election to be held, within three weeks of the recount, on a date set by the court.

(b) The only candidates who shall appear on the ballot at the runoff election shall be those who tied in the previous election.

(c) The runoff election shall be considered a separate election for the purpose of voter registration under chapter 43 of this title.

(d) [Repealed.]

(e) Warnings for a runoff election shall be posted as required by subchapter 5 of this chapter, except that the warnings shall be posted not less than 10 days before the runoff election.

(f) The conduct of a runoff election shall be as provided in this chapter for general elections.
17 V.S.A. § 1814 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 31 / Section 1814
§ 1814. Appointment of candidates for delegates
Status: in_force

Not less than 30 days before the date of the election of delegates, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or in case of incapacity of any one of them, the Secretary of State in his or her stead, shall appoint and forthwith announce the names of 28 candidates for delegates, such candidates being in their opinion representative citizens of Vermont. Fourteen of these candidates shall be persons who assent to the placing of their names on the ballots as “For Ratification,” and 14 shall be persons who assent to the placing of their names on the ballot as “Against Ratification.” One candidate for ratification and one candidate against ratification shall be appointed from each county in the State.
17 V.S.A. § 2907 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2907
§ 2907. Administration
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall administer this chapter and shall perform all duties required under this chapter. The Secretary of State may employ or contract for the services of persons necessary for performance of these duties.
17 V.S.A. § 2383 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2383
§ 2383. Notice of meetings
Status: in_force

The chair of the appropriate committee, or if the chair has not called a meeting then any three members of the committee, may set a date, time, and place for a committee meeting for the nomination of candidates pursuant to this subchapter and shall give not less than five days' notice in writing to all members of the committee. The notice shall specifically state the offices for which nominations may be made.
17 V.S.A. § 2501 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2501
§ 2501. Determining districts
Status: in_force

(a) The board of civil authority shall designate one or more polling places within a town; however, the voters at a regular or special meeting warned for that purpose may designate different polling places. If the questions and candidates to be voted upon are not identical for all voters in the town, so that different ballots will be used depending on where a voter lives, the board of civil authority shall suitably divide the master checklist for the whole town into separate checklists according to geographical boundaries, at least 40 days before the election. The master checklist shall be divided in a way that ensures that all voters on a particular checklist will be voting on the same questions and candidates and will be given identical ballots. Each of the separate checklists shall be organized alphabetically, and for each checklist the board of civil authority shall designate the location of a separate polling place. Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section or section 2147 of this title, each voter shall vote at the polling place designated for the separate checklist on which his or her name appears.

(b) The board of civil authority may also divide the master checklist into separate checklists for the convenient conduct of the election even if the questions and candidates to be voted upon are identical for all voters in the town. In such case, the board shall follow the procedures of this section.

(c) In preparing the separate checklists, the board of civil authority shall be responsible for accurately determining the geographical location of the last known place of residence of each voter in order to place the voter on the proper separate checklist. If at any time except on election day the board determines that a voter should be on a different checklist from the one on which his or her name appears, the board shall remove the voter's name from the wrong checklist and place it on the proper checklist in accordance with section 2147 of this title.

(d) The board shall post prominent notices in and around the polling places urging voters to check whether they have been placed on the proper geographical checklist. The notice shall also explain the procedures by which a voter who is on the wrong checklist for his or her geographical area can be added to the proper checklist and vote at the proper polling place.

(e) If more than one polling place is located within the same building, each shall be located so that it is separate and distinct from the others, and each shall be run separately from the others with regard to the process of voting. Each polling place shall have its own entrance and exit tables, guardrails, voting booths, and ballot boxes, and it shall have its own election officials handling the entrance and exit checklists, furnishing ballots, supervising the deposit of ballots, otherwise conducting the voting part of the elections, and tallying the checklists after the polls have closed. However, in the case of a town that uses vote tabulators designed to tabulate ballots from multiple districts by means of a single tabulator, nothing in this section shall prohibit such a town from using a single voting area and a single vote tabulator for two or more districts, as long as voters are checked in through separate entrance checklists and checked out through separate exit checklists if exit checklists are employed.
17 V.S.A. § 2686 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2686
§ 2686. Declaration of result
Status: in_force

If the recount shows that a person other than the one declared elected upon the original canvass of votes has the number of votes required by law for election to office, that person shall be declared elected and shall be entitled to the office.
17 V.S.A. § 2982 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2982
§ 2982. Filing of Vermont campaign finance affidavit
Status: in_force

(a) A candidate for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor who intends to seek Vermont campaign finance grants from the Secretary of State Services Fund shall file a Vermont campaign finance affidavit on the date on or before which primary petitions must be filed, whether the candidate seeks to enter a party primary or is an independent candidate.

(b) The Secretary of State shall prepare a Vermont campaign finance affidavit form, informational materials on procedures and financial requirements, and notification of the penalties for violation of this subchapter.

(c)(1) The Vermont campaign finance affidavit shall set forth the conditions of receiving grants under this subchapter and provide space for the candidate to agree that he or she will abide by such conditions and all expenditure and contribution limitations, reporting requirements, and other provisions of this chapter.

(2) The affidavit shall also state the candidate's name, legal residence, business or occupation, address of business or occupation, party affiliation, if any, the office sought, and whether the candidate intends to enter a party primary.

(3) The affidavit shall also contain a list of all the candidate's qualifying contributions together with the name and town of residence of the contributor and the date each contribution was made.

(4) The affidavit may further require affirmation of such other information as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State for the administration of this subchapter.

(5) The affidavit shall be sworn and subscribed to by the candidate.
17 V.S.A. § 2531 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2531
§ 2531. Application for early voter absentee ballot
Status: in_force

(a) Deadline to file.

(1)(A) A voter who expects to be an early or absentee voter, or an authorized person on behalf of such voter, may apply for an early voter absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. or the closing of the town clerk's office on the day preceding the election.

(B) If a town clerk does not have regular office hours on the day before the election and his or her office will not otherwise be open on that day, an application may be filed until the closing of the clerk's office on the last day that office has hours preceding the election.

(2)(A) In cases of emergency, including unanticipated illness or injury, at his or her discretion the town clerk may accept a request for an absentee ballot after the deadline set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(B) In such cases of emergency, the ballot may be mailed, electronically delivered, or delivered by two justices of the peace as set forth in subsection 2539(b) of this subchapter.

(b) Place of filing.

(1) All applications shall be filed with the town clerk of the town in which the early or absentee voter is registered to vote.

(2) The town clerk shall file written applications and memoranda of verbal applications in his or her office, and shall retain the applications and memoranda for 90 days following the election, at which time they may be destroyed.

(c) Australian ballot. Voting by early voter absentee ballot shall be allowed only in elections using the Australian ballot system.
17 V.S.A. § 2702 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2702
§ 2702. Nominating petition
Status: in_force

(a) The name of any person shall be printed upon the primary ballot as a candidate for nomination by any major political party if petitions signed by at least 1,000 voters in accordance with sections 2353, 2354, and 2358 of this title are filed with the Secretary of State, together with the written consent of the person to the printing of the person's name on the ballot.

(b) Petitions shall be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December preceding the primary election.

(c) The petition shall be in a form prescribed by the Secretary of State.

(d) A person's name shall not be listed as a candidate on the primary ballot of more than one party in the same election.

(e) Each petition shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $2,000.00 to be paid to the Secretary of State. However, if the petition of a candidate is accompanied by the affidavit of the candidate, which shall be available for public inspection, that the candidate and the candidate's campaign committee are without sufficient funds to pay the filing fee, the Secretary of State shall waive all but $300.00 of the payment of the filing fee by that candidate.

(f)(1) In order to have votes listed for a write-in candidate under section 2587 of this title, not later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the election, a write-in candidate for nomination shall complete a form of the Secretary of State's design affirming that the candidate wants to have received votes for that office in every major political party's primary results listed under subdivision 2587(e)(3) of this title. The candidate shall file the form with either all town clerks within the candidate's applicable district or the Secretary of State's office in an electronic manner approved by the Secretary. The Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate town clerks of any filings made in accordance with this subsection as soon as practicable.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, a write-in candidate is not required to file if:

(A) the candidate has already filed a consent to the printing of the candidate's name on the ballot for a major political party, as provided in section 2361, 2385, or 2402 of this title; or

(B) no candidate is printed on the ballot, or if a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot dies or is otherwise disqualified prior to 7:00 p.m. on the election day.
17 V.S.A. § 2318 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 45 / Section 2318
§ 2318. Organization of minor political parties
Status: in_force

A minor political party may organize in the manner set forth in this subchapter or in another manner that its members deem appropriate. Minor political parties shall comply with the filing requirements of sections 2307, 2311 to the extent applicable, and 2313 of this chapter, except that they need not be organized in 30 towns or in seven counties. They shall also comply with the procedural requirements of sections 2303 through 2306 and 2313 of this title, but need not comply with other procedural requirements in sections 2301, 2302, 2308 through 2310, and 2312 of this title. Minor political parties shall also comply with sections 2314 through 2317 of this title.
17 V.S.A. § 2752 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 58 / Section 2752
§ 2752. Article II-Right of the people in member states to vote for president and vice president
Status: in_force

Each member state shall conduct a statewide popular election for President and Vice President of the United States.
17 V.S.A. § 2473 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2473
§ 2473. Provisions relative to presidential election
Status: in_force

(a) When the President and Vice President are to be elected, the ballot shall contain the names of all candidates for these offices, arranged in alphabetical order according to the surname of the presidential candidate of each party. The names of the electors shall not be printed on the ballot. A vote for the presidential and vice presidential nominees of a party shall constitute a vote for the electors nominated by that party.

(b) The name and state of residence of the presidential and vice presidential candidate of each party shall be listed on separate lines joined together by a bracket, followed by the party designations and a single square for that pair of candidates. In lieu of the instructions: “Vote for not more than (the number of candidates to be elected),” the following instructions shall appear: “Mark ONE oval only.”

(c)(1) If a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot receives the greatest number of votes for President, the Secretary of State shall notify him or her of that fact, and within two weeks thereafter, the candidate shall file with the Secretary of State a list of voters equal to the number of electors that the State is entitled to elect. The list shall be signed by the candidate personally.

(2) The persons so named shall be electors, having the duties prescribed in this title.
17 V.S.A. § 2556 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2556
§ 2556. Provisional voting
Status: in_force

(a) If an individual's name does not appear on the checklist and the individual claims to have submitted an application for the checklist and refuses to complete a new application in accordance with subdivision 2563(2) of this chapter, or if the individual's registration application has been rejected and the individual disputes that rejection, the election official shall allow the individual to vote provisionally.

(b) The provisional voter shall be given a ballot and an envelope with an attestation printed upon it, as described in section 2555 of this title, and shall complete the attestation on the envelope. Upon completion, the provisional voter shall seal the envelope and deposit it in a ballot box marked for the receipt of provisional ballots.

(c) A provisional voter who makes a false statement in completing the attestation, knowing the statement to be false, shall be subject to the penalties of perjury as provided in 13 V.S.A. chapter 65.
17 V.S.A. § 1891 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 34 / Section 1891
§ 1891. Statement of policy
Status: in_force

The order of the U.S. District Court for the district of Vermont entered August 3, 1964, modified and affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, January 12, 1965 (Parsons v. Buckley, 85 S.Ct. 503, 379 U.S. 359, 13 L.Ed.2d 352) requires that both houses of the General Assembly of Vermont be apportioned and districted on a basis other than the manner provided for in the Constitution of this State. Such order further provides that if reapportionment legislation is not enacted by July 1, 1965, the district court shall reapportion the General Assembly so as to comply with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In the light of this order, the General Assembly of Vermont declares that apportioning and districting is primarily a responsibility of the Legislature at this time to be accomplished by this chapter, and in such a manner as to achieve substantial equality in the choice of members of the General Assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. It is further declared to be the policy of the State of Vermont that the constitutional basis of apportionment of the House of Representatives can best be measured in this State by population.
17 V.S.A. § 2631 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2631
§ 2631. Municipal charters
Status: in_force

(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, when the charter of a municipality provides for procedures other than those established by law, the provisions of that charter shall prevail.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, all provisions of law relating to a municipality shall apply to such a municipality with a charter.
17 V.S.A. § 2387 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2387
§ 2387. Place for filing statements
Status: in_force

Statements for the office of justice of the peace shall be filed with the town clerk. All other statements and consents shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
17 V.S.A. § 2144 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2144
§ 2144. Submitting applications
Status: repealed

(a) On any day other than the day of an election, the town clerk shall accept a person's application for his or her name to be placed on the checklist at the town clerk's office during all normal business hours.

(b) On the day of an election:

(1) A person may submit an application for addition to the checklist to the presiding officer at the polling place of the town in which the person seeks to register during the hours of voting established by the board of civil authority for that polling place. In towns with more than one polling place, the polling place shall be that which covers the area in which the person resides.

(2) The presiding officer or his or her designated election official shall review all applications submitted at the polling place and shall approve those applications that meet the requirements of section 2121 of this chapter. Upon approval, the applicant's name shall be added to the checklist at the polling place, and the applicant shall be provided with the opportunity to vote in the election. The town clerk shall add the information in the application to the statewide voter checklist within five business days of the day of the election.

(3) If the presiding officer or the designated election official cannot determine from an application submitted on election day that an applicant meets the requirements of section 2121 of this chapter, the presiding officer shall immediately refer the application to any members of the board of civil authority, or its equivalent entity under any applicable charter, present at the polling place, who shall meet immediately and proceed under section 2146 of this chapter to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements of section 2121 of this chapter. For purposes of adding applicant's names to the checklist under this subdivision (3), a quorum of the board or its equivalent entity shall be as provided in section 2451 of this title. If the board rejects an applicant, it shall notify him or her at the polling place.

(c), (d) [Repealed.]
17 V.S.A. § 1891a — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 34 / Section 1891a
§ 1891a. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter and in chapter 34A of this title:

(1) “Initial district” or “district” means a district created by law in the final plan enacted pursuant to section 1906 of this title and listed in section 1893 of this title.

(2) “Representative district” means a district from which one or two Representatives are elected.
17 V.S.A. § 2451 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2451
§ 2451. Board of civil authority
Status: in_force

(a) The board of civil authority shall have charge of the conduct of elections within the political subdivision for which it is elected.

(b) At any time before an election, the board of civil authority may issue guidance for elections officials that assists officials in conducting elections within the political subdivision. Guidance issued by the board shall not conflict with federal or State elections laws.

(c) A quorum of the board of civil authority shall be available at all times when the polls are open, and those members of the board of civil authority present at a polling place shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business relating to the conduct of the election and the qualification and registration of voters at this polling place.
17 V.S.A. § 2703 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2703
§ 2703. Examining petitions; supplementary petitions
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall examine the petitions and ascertain whether they conform to the provisions of this chapter, and sections 2353, 2354, and 2358 of this title. If found not to conform, the Secretary shall state in writing why a particular petition cannot be accepted, and within two business days from receipt, the Secretary shall return it to the candidate in whose behalf it was filed. In such case, supplementary petitions may be filed not later than 10 days after the deadline for filing petitions. However, supplementary petitions shall not be accepted if petitions with the signatures of at least 1,000 persons were not filed by the deadline for filing petitions set forth in section 2702 of this chapter.
17 V.S.A. § 2623 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 53 / Section 2623
§ 2623. Vacancies in offices within this State
Status: in_force

(a) In the event of a vacancy in any State, county, or legislative office, the Governor may request the political party or parties of the person whose death or resignation created the vacancy to submit one or more recommendations as to a successor. The proper committee to which a request for recommendation shall be directed shall be:

(1) for State officers, the State committee;

(2) for county officers, except justices of the peace and Probate judges, the county committee;

(3) for State Senator, the senatorial district committee;

(4) for State Representative, the representative district committee;

(5) for justice of the peace, the town committee;

(6) for Probate judge, the probate district committee.

(b) The Governor may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy for the remaining portion of the term, whether or not the appointee is recommended by the party committee.
17 V.S.A. § 2493 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2493
§ 2493. Rules for use of vote tabulators; audits
Status: in_force

(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules governing the use and the selection of any vote tabulator in the State. These rules shall include requirements that:

(1) All municipalities that have voted to use a vote tabulator shall use a uniform vote tabulator approved by the Secretary of State.

(2) The Secretary of State shall provide for the security of vote tabulators at all times. Vote tabulators, not including the ballot box portion, shall be locked in a vault or a secure location at all times when not in use.

(3)(A) The Secretary of State shall conduct a random postelection audit of any polling place election results for a general election within 30 days of the election.

(B) If the Secretary determines that a random audit shall be conducted of the election results in a town or city, the town clerk shall direct two members of the board of civil authority to transport the ballot bags to the office of the Secretary not later than 10:00 a.m. on the morning when the Secretary has scheduled the audit.

(C) The Secretary shall open the ballot bags and conduct the audit in the same manner as ballots are counted under sections 2581 through 2588 of this chapter. The Secretary shall publicly announce the results of the audit as well as the results from the original return of the vote.

(D) If the Secretary finds that the audit indicates that there was possible fraud in the count or return of votes, he or she shall refer the results to the Attorney General for possible prosecution.

(4)(A) All vote tabulators shall be set to reject a ballot that contains an overvote and the voter shall be provided the opportunity to obtain another ballot and correct the overvote. If an early voter absentee ballot contains an overvote, the elections official shall override the vote tabulator and count all races except any race that contains an overvote.

(B) All vote tabulators shall be set not to reject undervotes.

(5) Establish a process for municipalities using vote tabulators, whereby markings on ballots that are unreadable by a vote tabulator may be transferred by a pair of election officials, who are not members of the same political party, to ballots that are readable by the vote tabulator.

(6) Establish a process for using vote tabulators in recounts.

(b) Each vote tabulator shall be tested using official ballots that are marked clearly as “test ballots” at least 10 days prior to an election. This test shall be open to the public.

(c) The same vote tabulator or vote tabulator memory card used in any local, primary, or general election shall not be used in a recount of that election.

(d) A vote tabulator shall be a stand-alone device that shall not be connected to any other device or connections such as wireless connections, cable connections, cellular telephones, or telephone lines.

(e) A municipality only may use a vote tabulator as provided in this title that registers and counts votes cast on paper ballots and that otherwise meets the requirements of this title. A municipality shall not use any type of voting machine on which a voter casts his or her vote.
17 V.S.A. § 2499 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2499
§ 2499. Transfer of paper ballots from vote tabulators
Status: in_force

The presiding officer, with the assistance of at least two election officials, may transfer voted ballots from the box attached to the vote tabulator to another secure ballot box or secured ballot bag whenever necessary during election day in order to allow the vote tabulator to continue to function properly.
17 V.S.A. § 2983 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2983
§ 2983. Vermont campaign finance grants; conditions
Status: in_force

(a) A person shall not be eligible for Vermont campaign finance grants if, prior to February 15 of the general election year during any two-year general election cycle, he or she becomes a candidate by announcing that he or she seeks an elected position as Governor or Lieutenant Governor or by accepting contributions totaling $2,000.00 or more or by making expenditures totaling $2,000.00 or more.

(b) A candidate who accepts Vermont campaign finance grants shall:

(1) not solicit, accept, or expend any contributions except qualifying contributions, Vermont campaign finance grants, and contributions authorized under section 2985 of this chapter, which contributions may be solicited, accepted, or expended only in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter;

(2) deposit all qualifying contributions, Vermont campaign finance grants, and any contributions accepted in accordance with the provisions of section 2985 of this chapter in a federally insured noninterest-bearing checking account; and

(3) not later than 40 days after the general election, deposit in the Secretary of State Services Fund, after all permissible expenditures have been paid, the balance of any amounts remaining in the account established under subdivision (2) of this subsection.
17 V.S.A. § 2962 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2962
§ 2962. Reports; general provisions
Status: repealed

(a) Any report required to be submitted to the Secretary of State under this chapter shall contain the statement “I hereby certify that the information provided on all pages of this campaign finance disclosure report is true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief” and places for the signature of the candidate or the treasurer of the candidate, political committee, independent expenditure-only political committee, or political party.

(b) Any person required to file a report under this chapter shall provide the information required in the Secretary of State's reporting form. Disclosure shall be limited to the information required to administer this chapter.

(c) [Repealed.]
17 V.S.A. § 2538 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2538
§ 2538. Delivery of ballots by justices of the peace
Status: in_force

(a)(1) In the case of persons who are early or absentee voters due to illness, injury, or disability, ballots shall be delivered in the following manner, unless the early or absentee voter has requested pursuant to section 2539 of this subchapter that the early voter absentee ballots be mailed or electronically delivered.

(2) Not later than three days prior to the election, the board of civil authority or, upon request of the board, the town clerk, shall designate in pairs justices of the peace in numbers sufficient to deliver early voter absentee ballots to the applicants for early voter absentee ballots who have stated in their applications that they are unable to vote in person at the polling place due to illness, injury, or disability. A pair shall not consist of two justices from the same political party.

(3) If there shall not be available a sufficient number of justices to make up the required number of pairs, a member of each remaining pair shall be designated by the board, to be selected from lists of registered voters submitted by the chairs of the town committees of political parties, and from among registered voters who in written application to the board state that they are not affiliated with any political party.

(4) A candidate or spouse, parent, or child of a candidate shall not be eligible to perform the duties prescribed by this section unless the candidate involved is not disqualified by section 2456 of this chapter from serving as an election official.

(5) The compensation of justices and voters designated under this subsection shall be fixed by the board of civil authority and shall be paid by the town.

(6) The justices may, but shall not be required to, deliver ballots outside the town.

(b)(1) The town clerk shall divide the list of applicants who have an illness, injury, or disability into approximately as many equal parts as there are pairs of justices so designated, having regard to the several parts of the town in which the applicants may be found.

(2) As soon as early voter absentee ballots are available, the clerk shall deliver to each pair of justices one part of the list, together with early voter absentee ballots and envelopes for each applicant.

(3) When justices receive ballots and envelopes prior to election day, they shall receive only the ballots and envelopes they are assigned to deliver on that day.

(c)(1) Each pair of justices on the days they are assigned to deliver the ballots and envelopes shall call upon each of the early or absentee voters whose name appears on the part of the list furnished to them and shall deliver early voter absentee ballots and envelopes to each early or absentee voter.

(2) The early or absentee voter shall then proceed to mark the ballots alone or in the presence of the justices, but without exhibiting them to the justices or to any other person, except that when the early or absentee voter is blind or physically unable to mark his or her ballots, they may be marked by one of the justices in full view of the other.
17 V.S.A. § 2683 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2683
§ 2683. Request for a recount; candidates
Status: in_force

(a) A candidate for local office may request a recount by filing a request in writing with the municipal clerk within 10 days after the election.

(b) If the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate and the number of votes cast for a losing candidate is five percent or less of the total votes cast for all the candidates for an office, divided by the number of persons to be elected, that losing candidate shall have the right to have the votes for that office recounted.
17 V.S.A. § 2722 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2722
§ 2722. Certification of nominees for electors
Status: in_force

After adjournment of the platform convention of a major political party, the chair and secretary of the convention shall promptly execute a sworn statement certifying the names, towns of residence, and correct mailing addresses of the persons nominated by the convention to serve as electors, and shall promptly file the statement with the Secretary of State, along with the written consent of each person to be a nominee for elector.
17 V.S.A. § 2401 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2401
§ 2401. Applicability of subchapter
Status: in_force

(a) A person may be nominated and have the person's name printed on the general election ballot for any office by filing a consent similar in form to the consent prescribed by section 2361 of this title and a statement of nomination with the Secretary of State. In the case of a nomination for justice of the peace, the consent form and statement of nomination shall be filed with the town clerk.

(b) A candidate who loses a major party primary for any office shall not appear on the general election ballot as an independent candidate for the same office for which the candidate lost in the primary election.
17 V.S.A. § 2706 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2706
§ 2706. Provisions applicable
Status: in_force

The appropriate provisions of this title shall apply to presidential primaries, unless clearly inconsistent herewith.
17 V.S.A. § 2413 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2413
§ 2413. Nomination of justices of the peace
Status: repealed

(a)(1) The party members in each town, on or before the third Monday in July before each primary election, upon the call of the town committee, may meet in caucus and nominate candidates for justice of the peace.

(2)(A) The committee shall give notice of the caucus by posting notice at the office of the town clerk and two other public places in the town at least five days prior to the caucus.

(B) In addition, for towns with over 3,000 voters, the committee shall post this notice at least one day prior to the caucus:

(i)(I) in a newspaper of general circulation within the town; or

(II) on a nonpartisan electronic news media website that specializes in news of the State or the community; and

(ii) on the municipality's website, if the municipality actively updates its website on a regular basis.

(3) [Repealed.]

(b) If it does not hold a caucus as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the town committee shall meet and nominate candidates for justices of the peace as provided in sections 2381 through 2385 of this title. At least three days prior to this meeting, the town committee shall provide notice of the meeting by emailing or mailing committee members and by posting notice of the meeting in the office of the town clerk and in two other public places in the town.

(c) In any town in which a political party has not formally organized, any three members of the party who are voters in the town may call a caucus to nominate candidates for justice of the peace by giving notice as required in subsection (a) of this section. Upon meeting, the caucus shall first elect a chair and a secretary. Thereafter the caucus shall nominate its candidates for justice of the peace.

(d) [Repealed.]

(e) For any nomination made under this section, the chair and secretary of the committee or caucus shall file the statement required by section 2385 of this title by 5:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday in July before the primary election.
17 V.S.A. § 2474 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2474
§ 2474. Choice of party
Status: in_force

(a)(1) A person nominated by any means for the same office by more than one political party may elect, not later than 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day following the primary election, the party or parties in which the nominee will be a candidate. The nominee shall notify in writing the Secretary of State or town clerk, as the case may be, of such choice by that deadline, and only the party or parties that the nominee so elects shall be printed next to the nominee's name on the ballot.

(2) If the nominee does not notify the Secretary of State or the town clerk of his or her choice of party, the Secretary of State shall print on the ballot those parties next to the nominee's name by listing in this order:

(A) the major political party for which the nominee had his or her name printed on the ballot in the primary;

(B) any major political parties that nominated the nominee by the party committee, in the order in which the nominations were submitted to the Secretary of State;

(C) any major political parties for which the nominee received write-in votes, in an order from highest to lowest vote counts; and

(D) any minor political parties that nominated the nominee by party committee, in the order in which the nominations were submitted to the Secretary of State.

(b)(1) A candidate for State office who is the nominee of two or more political parties shall file with the Secretary of State, not later than 5:00 p.m. the tenth day following the primary election, a statement designating for which party the votes cast for him or her shall be counted for the purposes of determining whether his or her designated party shall be a major political party. The party so designated shall be the first party to be printed immediately after the candidate's name on the ballot.

(2) If a candidate does not file the statement by that deadline, the Secretary of State shall designate the party for which the votes cast shall be counted as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section.
17 V.S.A. § 2949 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2949
§ 2949. Use of term "candidate"
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter, the term “candidate” includes the candidate's committee, except in regard to the provisions of section 2947 of this subchapter.
17 V.S.A. § 2149 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2149
§ 2149. Conclusiveness of list
Status: in_force

(a) A person shall not vote at an election unless his or her name is on the checklist applicable to the municipality, but the checklist may be amended and corrected for such election as provided in this title. The eligibility of a person to vote shall not be challenged on the day of election if the person's name is on the checklist, except as provided in section 2564 of this title.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section:

(1) If the voter registration records indicate that a voter has moved from an address in the area covered by the polling place, the voter shall be permitted to vote at that polling place if the voter makes an oral or written affirmation that he or she continues to reside in the area covered by that polling place. The affirmation authorized by this subdivision shall be made at the polling place before an election official.

(2) If a voter who failed to return notice sent pursuant to section 2150 of this title has moved from an address in the area covered by one polling place to an address in an area covered by a different polling place within the same municipality, the voter shall upon oral or written confirmation, be permitted to correct the voting records and vote in the current election at the appropriate polling place. The affirmation authorized by this subdivision shall be made at the appropriate polling place before an election official.
17 V.S.A. § 2681 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2681
§ 2681. Nominations; petitions; consents
Status: in_force

(a)(1)(A) Nominations of the municipal officers shall be by petition. The petition shall be filed with the municipal clerk, together with the endorsement, if any, of any party or parties in accordance with the provisions of this title, not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election, which shall be the filing deadline.

(B) A candidate shall be registered to vote in the town he or she is seeking office at or before the time of filing the petition.

(2) The candidate shall also file a written consent to the printing of the candidate's name on the ballot on or before the filing deadline for petitions as set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(3) A petition shall contain the name of only one candidate.

(b) A petition shall contain at least 30 valid signatures of voters of the municipality or one percent of the legal voters of the municipality, whichever is less. The candidate, prior to circulating his or her petitions, shall print on them his or her name as it appears on the voter checklist and shall indicate clearly on them which office he or she is seeking. If there are different lengths of term available for an office, the candidate must indicate clearly the length of term, as well.

(c) The town clerk shall make petition forms and consent forms available. Petition forms shall be sufficient if they are in substantially the following form:

STATE OF VERMONT

..................... County

The undersigned hereby petition the town clerk and other town officers of the Town of .......................... , County of .......................... , Vermont that

.....................................................................................

(Name of Candidate —— Nominee)

be a nominee for election to the office of

.....................................................................................

(Name of Office)

at the local election to be held in the town on the ................. day of ........................... , 20 ............... . We certify that we are presently voters of that town.

NAME/SIGNATURE STREET ADDRESS

.........................................

.........................................

.........................................

.........................................

.........................................

.........................................

.........................................

.........................................

(d) A person consenting to be nominated may withdraw by notifying the municipal clerk in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday after the filing deadline.

(e) The officer receiving the petitions shall immediately proceed to examine them to ascertain whether they conform to the provisions of this subchapter. If found not to conform, he or she shall state in writing on the petition why it cannot be accepted, and within 24 hours from receipt he or she shall return it to the candidate in whose behalf it was filed. In this case, supplementary petitions may be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday after the filing deadline. However, supplementary petitions shall not be accepted if petitions with signatures of different persons totaling at least the number specified in subsection (b) of this section were not filed by the filing deadline set forth in subdivision (a)(1) of this section.
17 V.S.A. § 2301 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 45 / Section 2301
§ 2301. Organization of major political parties
Status: in_force

A major political party shall organize biennially as provided in this chapter. A person acting on behalf of a major political party shall not accept any contribution or make any expenditure (except for the purpose of organizing under this chapter) unless the party has a current certificate of organization on file with the Secretary of State.
17 V.S.A. § 2362 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2362
§ 2362. Primary ballots
Status: in_force

(a) A separate ballot for each major political party shall be printed and furnished to the towns by the Secretary of State and shall contain the names of all candidates for nomination by that party at the primary. Ballots shall be printed on index stock and configured to be readable by vote tabulators. Ballots shall be printed in substantially the following form:

OFFICIAL VERMONT PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT

VOTE ON ONE PARTY BALLOT ONLY AND PLACE IN BALLOT BOX OR VOTE TABULATOR

ALL OTHER PARTY BALLOTS MUST BE PLACED IN UNVOTED BALLOT BOX

____________

[MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY NAME]

____________

Instructions to voters: Use black pen or pencil to fill in the oval. To vote for a person whose name is printed on the ballot, fill in the oval to the right of the name of that person. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot, write or stick his or her name in the blank space provided and fill in the oval to the right of the write-in space. Do not vote for more candidates than the “Vote for Not More Than” number for an office. If you make a mistake, tear, or deface the ballot, return it to an election official and obtain another ballot. Do not erase.

(b) Following the names of candidates printed on the ballot after the name of each office to be filled shall be as many blank lines for write-in candidates as there are persons to be elected to that office. If no primary petition is filed for an office or for a candidate belonging to a party, the ballot shall contain the name of the office and blank lines for write-in candidates.
17 V.S.A. § 2144b — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2144b
§ 2144b. Additions to checklist by town clerk
Status: repealed

(a)(1) A town clerk shall review all applications to the voter checklist and shall approve those applications that meet the requirements of this chapter. Once approved, application information shall be added to the statewide voter checklist within three business days of receipt by the town clerk's office.

(2) If an applicant has failed upon the date of the election to provide any information required upon the application form pursuant to section 2145 of this title, the town clerk shall notify the applicant that the form was incomplete and the applicant may provide the information on or before the date of the election.

(b) [Repealed.]

(c) If the town clerk does not determine that an applicant meets the requirements of section 2121 of this title, the clerk shall immediately forward the application to the board of civil authority, which shall meet in a timely manner after the receipt of the application and proceed under section 2146 of this title to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements of section 2121. For purposes of adding applicants to the checklist, a quorum shall consist of three members of the board of civil authority.

(d) Periodically, or at least five days prior to each election, the town clerk shall forward to the board of civil authority a list of additions to the checklist.
17 V.S.A. § 1850 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 32 / Section 1850
§ 1850. Transmission of copies of chapter and forms to clerks
Status: in_force

(a) The Secretary of State shall send to the clerk of each city and town a copy of this chapter at least two months before the vote on the ratification of an article of amendment.

(b) In any year in which a vote on ratification of an article of amendment is taken, the Secretary of State shall, within the period prescribed by section 1844 of this chapter, send to the clerk of each city and town ballots provided for in that section and blank forms for the returns of votes on the article of amendment.
17 V.S.A. § 1892 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 34 / Section 1892
§ 1892. House of Representatives membership
Status: in_force

The House of Representatives shall consist of 150 members, each of whom shall be elected from a district established by law. No person shall be elected a Representative until he or she has resided in this State two years, the last of which shall be in the district for which he or she is elected.
17 V.S.A. § 2453 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2453
§ 2453. Duties of presiding officer
Status: in_force

The presiding officer shall be responsible for preparation of polling places and voting equipment, opening and closing the polls, scheduling the working hours of all election officials, counting votes and certifying the results of the count, securing all ballots, maintaining order at the polls, and in all things assuring that the election is conducted according to law. If it is necessary for the presiding officer to be absent from the polling place during any part of the election, he or she shall designate another to act in his or her stead until he or she returns. The presiding officer shall make every reasonable effort to assure that at least one election official from each major party is present at the polling place at all times.
17 V.S.A. § 2622 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 53 / Section 2622
§ 2622. Interim appointment of U.S. Senator
Status: in_force

The Governor may make an interim appointment to fill a vacancy in the office of U.S. Senator, pending the filling of the vacancy by special election.
17 V.S.A. § 2145b — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2145b
§ 2145b. Voter registration agencies
Status: in_force

(a) Each voter registration agency shall:

(1) distribute voter registration application forms approved under section 2145 of this title;

(2) assist applicants in completing voter registration application forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance; and

(3) accept completed voter registration applications and transmit completed applications to the Secretary of State not later than 10 days after the date of acceptance, or before the date of any primary or general election, whichever is sooner.

(b) The Secretary shall promptly transmit applications received under this section to the clerks of the appropriate municipalities.

(c)(1) A voter registration agency shall provide each applicant who does not decline to register to vote the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the voter registration application that the office provides with regard to the completion of its own forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance.

(2) If an agency provides services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency shall provide the services described in subsection (a) of this section at the person's home.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a voter registration agency that provides services or assistance in addition to conducting voter registration shall distribute a voter registration application with each application for the services or assistance provided by the agency, and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to those services or assistance. In addition to the voter registration application form, the agency shall distribute a separate form that includes the following:

(1) The question, “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?”

(2) In the case of an agency that provides public assistance, the statement, “Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.”

(3) Boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would like to register or declines to register to vote, together with the statement, “IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME.”

(4) The statement, “If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.”

(5) The statement, “If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of State (Secretary of State's office address and telephone number).”

(e) The Secretary of State may designate voter registration agencies that shall provide qualified applicants for such agency's services, or qualified inmates within the custody of the Department of Corrections, with automatic voter registration as an integrated option on application forms for services provided by those agencies.

(1) Such designations shall be limited to a voter registration agency or a specific program administered by such an agency:

(A) that, in the regular course of the agency's or program's business, already collects and verifies documents necessary to provide proof of an individual's eligibility to vote under subchapter 1 of this chapter; and

(B) whose secretary, commissioner, or other applicable head of the agency has approved of such designation.

(2) A voter registration agency shall not collect data necessary to establish an individual's eligibility to vote solely for the purpose of being designated an automatic voter registration agency under this subsection.

(3) On or before January 1 of each year, the Secretary shall, in accordance with the approval given by a voter registration agency's secretary, commissioner, or other head:

(A) publish on his or her official website a list of voter registration agencies designated under this subsection;

(B) specify which programs or services offered by each agency are included within the designation; and

(C) provide the date by which the agency's specified programs or services will comply with requirements of this subsection.

(4) Beginning on the date by which a voter registration agency's specified programs or services will comply with requirements of this subsection, an application for those services and any change of address form related to those services provided by the agency shall request the following information in a form approved by the Secretary of State:

(A) The applicant's citizenship.

(B) The applicant's date of birth.

(C) The applicant's town of legal residence.

(D) The applicant's street address or a description of the physical location of the applicant's residence. The description must contain sufficient information so that the town clerk can determine whether the applicant is a resident of the town.

(E) The voter's oath.

(F) The applicant's email address, which shall be optional to provide.

(5) An application for a designated automatic voter registration agency's services shall provide the following statements:

(A) “By signing and submitting this application, you are authorizing this voter registration agency to transmit this application to the Secretary of State for voter registration purposes. YOU MAY DECLINE TO REGISTER. Both the office through which you submit this application and your decision of whether or not to register will remain confidential and will be used for voter registration purposes only.”

(B) “In order to be registered to vote, you must: (1) be a U.S. citizen; (2) be a resident of Vermont; (3) have taken the voter's oath; and (4) be 18 years of age or older. Any person meeting the requirements of (1)-(3) who will be 18 years of age on or before the date of a general election may register and vote in the primary election immediately preceding that general election. Failure to decline to register is an attestation that you meet the requirements to vote.”

(6)(A) An application for a designated automatic voter registration agency's services shall provide the penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application and shall require the signature of the applicant, under penalty of perjury.

(B) If a person who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this subsection in the absence of a violation of subsection 2145(f) of this chapter, that person's registration shall be presumed to have been effected with official authorization and not the fault of that person.

(f)(1) The Secretary of State shall have the authority to audit any voter registration agency to determine compliance with the requirements of this section and to require any voter registration agency to implement any remedial measures necessary to ensure compliance with this section.

(2) The Secretary of Administration shall provide the Secretary of State any assistance that is necessary to ensure the cooperation of voter registration agencies in implementing any remedial measures the Secretary of State requires under this subsection.
17 V.S.A. § 2923 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2923
§ 2923. Political parties; registration; checking accounts; treasurer
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Each political party that has accepted contributions or made expenditures of $1,000.00 or more in any two-year general election cycle shall register with the Secretary of State within 10 days of reaching the $1,000.00 threshold. In its registration, the party shall state its full name and address, the name and address of the bank in which it maintains its campaign checking account, and the name and address of the treasurer responsible for maintaining the checking account.

(2) A political party may permit any subsidiary, branch, or local unit of the political party to maintain its own checking account. If a subsidiary, branch, or local unit of a political party is so permitted, it shall file with the Secretary of State within five days of establishing the checking account its full name and address, the name of the political party, the name and address of the bank in which it maintains its campaign checking account, and the name and address of the treasurer responsible for maintaining the checking account.

(b) All expenditures by a political party or its subsidiary, branch, or local unit shall be paid by either a credit card or a debit card, check, or other electronic transfer from the single campaign checking account in the bank designated by the political party, subsidiary, branch, or local unit under subsection (a) of this section, or if under $250.00, the political party, subsidiary, branch, or local unit may make the expenditure from cash from that campaign checking account if accompanied by a receipt, a copy of which shall be maintained by the political party, subsidiary, branch, or local unit for at least two years from the end of the two-year general election cycle in which the expenditure was made. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the payment of fees required to be made from a separately held online account designated solely to collect campaign contributions made to the political party, subsidiary, branch, or local unit.

(c) A political party or its subsidiary, branch, or local unit whose principal place of business or whose treasurer is not located in this State shall file a statement with the Secretary of State designating a person who resides in this State upon whom may be served any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the political party, subsidiary, branch, or local unit. This statement shall be filed at the same time as the registration required in subsection (a) of this section.
17 V.S.A. § 2124 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2124
§ 2124. Voter's oath or affirmation; how administered; application
Status: repealed

(a) The voter's oath may be administered by:

(1) a person authorized by the law of this State to administer oaths and affirmations;

(2) a member of a board of civil authority;

(3) a commissioned officer of the military service;

(4) any other person qualified to administer oaths and affirmations, within or outside the United States, by the laws of the place in which the oath or affirmation is administered;

(5) any other person over the age of 18; or

(6) an applicant for addition to the checklist who attests to having taken the oath or affirmation under the penalty of perjury.

(b) [Repealed.]

(c) At a minimum, the town clerk shall keep the completed applications for addition to the checklist, or an electronic copy thereof, through the end of the general election cycle that follows the one in which the application was received. The town clerk shall verify, upon request, that a voter has been given the oath or affirmation.
17 V.S.A. § 1881a — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 33 / Section 1881a
§ 1881a. Senatorial districts; nominations and election
Status: in_force

(a) The laws relating to the election of Senators in single counties shall apply in senatorial districts except as their application may be inconsistent with this section or the structure of those districts.

(b) In senatorial districts, the senatorial district clerk shall be the county clerk for those towns within the district aggregating the largest population.

(c)(1) Petitions for nominating candidates for Senator in the General Assembly by primary or by certificates of nomination of candidates for that office by convention, caucus, committee, or voters under chapter 49 of this title may be filed in the office of any county clerk in a senatorial district.

(2)(A) On the day after the last day for filing those petitions or certificates for that office, the other county clerk shall notify the senatorial district clerk of the facts concerning those petitions or certificates.

(B) The senatorial district clerk shall be responsible for determining the names of candidates and other facts required by law to appear on the ballot for the office of Senator and for obtaining and distributing the ballots to the other clerks in the district.

(d) The clerk of the less populous county in a senatorial district shall report the results of voting in his or her county immediately after they are determined to the senatorial district clerk, who shall issue the certificates of nomination or election required by law as to the office of Senator.

(e) The canvassing of votes in a senatorial district shall be done in each county in the district as in the case of single counties, but the clerk of the less populous county in a senatorial district shall send a copy of the appropriate certificate to the clerk of the senatorial district who shall issue necessary certificates for the senatorial district.
17 V.S.A. § 2123 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2123
§ 2123. Residents of unorganized towns and gores
Status: in_force

A resident of an unorganized town, grant, or gore may have his or her name placed upon the checklist in any town that is both in the probate district and in the representative district in which he or she resides, and he or she shall be entitled to vote in all elections in such town except local elections.
17 V.S.A. § 2651 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2651
§ 2651. Road and water commissioners; appointment, removal
Status: in_force

(a) Unless the town votes to elect road commissioners, the selectboard shall appoint forthwith one or two road commissioners and may remove from office a road commissioner appointed by them, for just cause after due notice and hearing. The selectboard may appoint one or two members of their own board to serve as road commissioners.

(b) Unless the town votes to elect water commissioners, the selectboard shall appoint forthwith no less than three nor more than five water commissioners, unless there is no existing, or prospective, municipal water system for such commissioners to supervise. The selectboard may remove an appointed water commissioner from office for just cause after due notice and hearing. The selectboard may appoint members of their own board to serve as water commissioners.
17 V.S.A. § 2963 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2963
§ 2963. Campaign reports; Secretary of State; forms; filing
Status: in_force

(a) The Secretary of State shall prescribe and provide a uniform reporting form for all campaign finance reports. The reporting form shall be designed to show the following information:

(1) the full name, town of residence, and mailing address of each contributor who contributes an amount in excess of $100.00, the date of the contribution, and the amount contributed;

(2) the total amount of all contributions of $100.00 or less and the total number of all contributors making such contributions;

(3) each expenditure listed by amount, date, to whom paid, for what purpose; and

(A) if the expenditure was a related campaign expenditure made on a candidate's behalf:

(i) the name of the candidate or candidates on whose behalf the expenditure was made; and

(ii) the name of any other candidate or candidates who were otherwise supported or opposed by the expenditure; or

(B) if the expenditure was not a related campaign expenditure made on a candidate's behalf but was made to support or oppose a candidate or candidates, the name of the candidate or candidates;

(4) the amount contributed or loaned by the candidate to his or her own campaign during the reporting period; and

(5) each debt or other obligation, listed by amount, date incurred, to whom owed, and for what purpose, incurred during the reporting period.

(b)(1) The form shall require the reporting of all contributions and expenditures accepted or spent during the reporting period and during the campaign to date and shall require full disclosure of the manner in which any indebtedness is discharged or forgiven.

(2) Contributions and expenditures for the reporting period and for the campaign to date also shall be totaled in an appropriate place on the form. The total of contributions shall include a subtotal of nonmonetary contributions and a subtotal of all monetary contributions.

(3) The form shall contain a list of the required filing times so that the person filing may designate for which time period the filing is made.

(4) Contributions accepted and expenditures spent after 5:00 p.m. on the third day prior to the filing deadline shall be reported on the next report.
17 V.S.A. § 1817 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 31 / Section 1817
§ 1817. Endorsement of ballots
Status: in_force

Upon each ballot shall be endorsed the words “Official Ballot,” followed by the name of the town in which it is to be used, the date of the election, and a facsimile of the signature of the Secretary of State with his or her official title.
17 V.S.A. § 2968 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2968
§ 2968. Campaign reports; local candidates
Status: in_force

(a) Each candidate for local office who has rolled over any amount of surplus into his or her new campaign or who has made expenditures or accepted contributions of $500.00 or more since the last local election for that office shall file with the Secretary of State campaign finance reports 30 days before, 10 days before, four days before, and two weeks after the local election.

(b) Within 40 days after the local election, each candidate for local office required to report under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall file with the Secretary of State a “final report” that lists a complete accounting of all contributions and expenditures since the last report and a liquidation of surplus and which shall constitute the termination of his or her campaign activities.

(c) The failure of a local candidate to file a campaign finance report under this section shall be deemed an affirmative statement that the candidate either did not roll over any amount of surplus into his or her new campaign or has not accepted contributions or made expenditures of $500.00 or more since the last local election for that office.
17 V.S.A. § 2651b — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2651b
§ 2651b. Elimination of office of auditor; appointment of public accountant
Status: in_force

(a)(1) A town may vote by ballot at an annual meeting to eliminate the office of town auditor.

(2)(A) If a town votes to eliminate the office of town auditor, the selectboard shall contract with a public accountant licensed in this State to perform an annual financial audit of all funds of the town except the funds audited pursuant to 16 V.S.A. § 323.

(B) Unless otherwise provided by law, the selectboard shall provide for all other auditor's duties to be performed.

(3) A vote to eliminate the office of town auditor shall remain in effect until rescinded by majority vote of the registered voters present and voting, by ballot, at an annual meeting duly warned for that purpose.

(b) The term of office of any auditor in office on the date a town votes to eliminate that office shall expire on the 45th day after such vote or on the date upon which the selectboard enters into a contract with a public accountant under this section, whichever occurs first.

(c) The authority to vote to eliminate the office of town auditor as provided in this section shall extend to all towns except those towns that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of town auditor.
17 V.S.A. § 2659 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2659
§ 2659. Preservation of order
Status: in_force

The moderator shall preserve order in the conduct of business and in debate. If a person, after notice, is persistently disorderly and refuses to withdraw from the meeting, the moderator may cause him or her to be removed, calling upon the constable or other person for that purpose. A person who so refuses to withdraw when ordered so to do shall be fined not more than $200.00.
17 V.S.A. § 2309 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 45 / Section 2309
§ 2309. First meeting of county committee
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The chair of the State committee shall set a date for the first meeting of each county committee.

(2) The State chair shall notify the chairs of the county committees of the date of the meeting.

(3)(A) The chair of the county committee shall set the hour and place of the meeting and shall notify all delegates-elect by mail or electronic mail not less than 10 days prior to the meeting.

(B) If the chair of the county committee receives notice that a town committee within the county has organized 10 or fewer days before the date of the first meeting of the county committee, the chair shall notify the newly elected members within 48 hours of receiving notice of the organized town committee.

(b)(1) At the time and place set for the meeting, the delegates shall proceed to elect their officers and perfect an organization of the county committee for the ensuing two years.

(2) All officers and other members of the county committee and all delegates to the State committee shall be voters of the county.
17 V.S.A. § 2361 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2361
§ 2361. Consent of candidate
Status: in_force

(a) A candidate for whom petitions containing sufficient valid signatures have been filed shall file with the official with whom the petitions were filed a consent to the printing of the candidate's name on the ballot. The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish forms for this purpose.

(b)(1) The consent shall set forth the name of the candidate, as the candidate wishes to have it printed on the ballot, the candidate's town of residence, and correct mailing address.

(2) If a candidate wishes to use a nickname, the format on the ballot shall be the candidate's first name, the nickname set off in quotations, and the candidate's last name.

(A) A nickname of one or two words by which the candidate has been commonly known for at least three years preceding the election may be used in combination with a candidate's name. A nickname that constitutes a slogan or otherwise indicates a political, economic, social, or religious view or affiliation may not be used.

(B) A nickname may not be used unless the candidate executes and files with the application for a place on the ballot an affidavit indicating that the nickname complies with this subsection.

(3) Professional titles such as “Dr.,” “Esq.,” or “CPA” shall not be used as part of a candidate's name on the ballot.

(c) The consent shall be filed on or before the day petitions are due. Unless a consent is filed, the candidate's name shall not be printed on the primary ballot.
17 V.S.A. § 2906 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2906
§ 2906. Campaign database; candidate information web page
Status: in_force

(a) Campaign database. For each election, the Secretary of State shall develop and continually update a publicly accessible campaign database, which shall be made available to the public through the Secretary of State's home page online service or through printed reports from the Secretary of State in response to a public request within 14 days of the date of the request. The database shall contain:

(1) at least the following information for all candidates for statewide, county, and local office and for the General Assembly:

(A) for candidates receiving public financing grants, the amount of each grant awarded; and

(B) the information contained in any reports submitted pursuant to subchapter 4 of this chapter;

(2) an Internet link to campaign finance reports filed by Vermont's candidates for federal office;

(3) the adjustments for inflation made to monetary amounts as required by this chapter; and

(4) any photographs, biographical sketches, and position statements submitted to the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Candidate information web page.

(1) Any candidate for statewide office and any candidate for federal office qualified to be on the ballot in this State may submit to the Secretary of State a photograph, biographical sketch, and position statement of a length and format specified by the Secretary of State for the purposes of preparing a candidate information web page within the website of the Secretary of State.

(2) Without making any substantive changes in the material presented, the Secretary of State shall prepare a candidate information web page on the Secretary of State's website that includes the candidates' photographs, biographies, and position statements; a brief explanation of the process used to obtain candidate submissions; and, with respect to offices for which public financing is available, an indication of which candidates are receiving Vermont campaign finance grants and which candidates are not receiving Vermont campaign finance grants.

(3) The Secretary of State shall populate the candidate information web page by posting each candidate's submission no later than three business days after receiving the candidate's submission.
17 V.S.A. § 2645a — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2645a
§ 2645a. Chartered municipalities; vote to suspend charter authority and rely on general municipal law
Status: in_force

(a) A municipality may propose to suspend for not more than three years specific authority granted in the municipality's charter and instead use later-enacted general municipal authority granted to all Vermont municipalities by the General Assembly, provided that the proposal is approved by the voters at any annual or special meeting warned for that purpose.

(b) The proposal may be made by the legislative body of the municipality or by petition of five percent of the voters of the municipality. The proposal shall specifically identify and contain the later-enacted general law that the municipality proposes to use in lieu of the charter provision.

(c) If the proposal is approved by a majority of voters at an annual or special meeting warned for that purpose, then the municipal clerk shall certify the results of the vote to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations.

(d) Annually on or before November 15, the Office of Legislative Counsel shall prepare a list of the charter provisions that are subject to a repeal review pursuant to this section.
17 V.S.A. § 1812 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 31 / Section 1812
§ 1812. Composition of convention
Status: in_force

The convention shall be composed of 14 delegates elected at large by the qualified voters of Vermont. It shall meet in the Senate chamber of the capitol at Montpelier. The date for the holding of such convention shall be not less than 20 nor more than 30 days after the election of delegates.
17 V.S.A. § 2651f — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2651f
§ 2651f. Municipal treasurer; appointment; removal
Status: in_force

(a)(1) A municipality may vote at an annual meeting to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal treasurer.

(2) A treasurer so appointed may be removed by the legislative body for just cause after notice and hearing.

(b) A vote to authorize the legislative body to appoint the treasurer shall remain in effect until rescinded by the majority vote of the registered voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting, duly warned for that purpose.

(c) The term of office of a treasurer in office on the date a municipality votes to allow the legislative body to appoint a treasurer shall expire 45 calendar days after the vote or on the date upon which the legislative body appoints a treasurer under this section, whichever occurs first, unless a petition for reconsideration or rescission is filed in accordance with section 2661 of this title.

(d) The authority to authorize the legislative body to appoint the treasurer as provided in this section shall extend to all municipalities except those that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of municipal treasurer.
17 V.S.A. § 2969 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2969
§ 2969. Reporting of surplus maintenance by former candidates
Status: in_force

A former candidate who has maintained surplus by carrying it forward as provided in subdivision 2924(d)(1)(B) of this chapter but who is not otherwise required to file campaign reports under this chapter shall file a report of the amount of his or her surplus and any liquidation of it two weeks after each general election until liquidation of all surplus has been reported.
17 V.S.A. § 2143 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 43 / Section 2143
§ 2143. Political representation on board of civil authority
Status: in_force

(a) If the board of civil authority of any political subdivision does not contain at least three members of each major political party and the party committee or at least three voters request increased representation for an underrepresented major political party by filing a written request with the clerk of the political subdivision, the legislative body shall appoint from a list of names submitted to it by the underrepresented party a sufficient number of voters to the board of civil authority to bring the underrepresented major party's membership on the board to three. A person's name shall not be submitted unless he or she consents to serve if appointed.

(b) The persons so appointed shall have the same duties and authority with respect to elections as have other members of the board, but those persons shall have no authority with respect to functions of the board of civil authority that are not related to elections.
17 V.S.A. § 2641 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2641
§ 2641. Warning and notice required; publication of warnings
Status: in_force

(a) The legislative body of a municipality shall warn a meeting by posting a warning and notice in at least two public places in the municipality, and in or near the town clerk's office, not less than 30 nor more than 40 days before the meeting. If a municipality has more than one polling place and the polling places are not all in the same building, the warning and notice shall be posted in at least two public places within each voting district and in or near the town clerk's office.

(b) In addition, the warning shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least five days before the meeting, unless the warning is published in the town report and distributed as provided in 24 V.S.A. § 1682. The legislative body annually shall designate the paper in which such a warning may be published. The warning shall also be posted on the municipality's website, if the municipality actively updates its website on a regular basis.

(c) No such warning shall be required for municipal informational meetings at which no voting is to take place.
17 V.S.A. § 1901 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 34A / Section 1901
§ 1901. Purpose
Status: in_force

(a) The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires all state legislative bodies to be apportioned in such manner as to achieve substantially equal weighting of the votes of all voters in the choice of legislators.

(b) To comply with such requirement it will be necessary to reapportion the House of Representatives and the Senate at periodic intervals, so that changes may be recognized in legislative apportionment.

(c) It is the purpose of this chapter to achieve such reapportionment in an orderly and impartial manner.
17 V.S.A. § 2602h — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2602h
§ 2602h. Completing the tally
Status: in_force

(a) The county clerk shall return all ballots to their container, seal the container, record the seal number on the summary sheet, and write “recounted” and specify the date of the recount on the tag.

(b) In the presence of the clerk observer team, the county clerk shall add together the hand count and vote tabulator totals for each town, as recorded on the tally sheets and vote tabulator tape submitted to him or her, record those totals on the summary sheet for that town, and affix his or her seal to that summary sheet.

(c)(1) The county clerk shall compare the number of ballots recounted for that town with the number of ballots counted at the town as reported on the official return of votes, and with the number of voters who voted at that town according to the checklist examination, as applicable under section 2602d of this subchapter and recorded by the county clerk on the summary sheet in accordance with that section.

(2) If these numbers differ, the county clerk shall note the amount of the difference on the summary sheets for that town.

(d) If there is more than one town subject to the recount:

(1) this process shall be repeated for each town; and

(2) once all towns have been recounted, the county clerk shall add together the totals from each town and record the total for all towns on a master summary sheet and affix his or her seal to that sheet.

(e) The county clerk shall send the summary sheets for all towns together with any master summary sheet, the ballots marked defective or contained in a defective ballot envelope, and any original ballots containing questionable votes to the court and obtain a receipt for that delivery.
17 V.S.A. § 2715 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 57 / Section 2715
§ 2715. Party convention to elect delegates
Status: in_force

(a) The State committee of each major political party holding a national convention shall call a party convention, under rules proposed in advance and adopted by the committee, to be held during the month of May or June in each presidential election year. At the convention, delegates and alternates to the national convention of such party, to the number apportioned to this State, shall be elected by the rules adopted by each major political party.

(b) Each major political party shall adopt rules relating to the delegates and alternates of a candidate who has withdrawn as a candidate. A declaration of withdrawal shall be made in writing and becomes effective when filed with the Secretary of State.

(c) Each major political party shall adopt rules relating to the manner in which the delegates elected in accordance with this section shall represent, at the national convention, the voters for whom the delegates were elected.
17 V.S.A. § 2415 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2415
§ 2415. Failure to file; penalties
Status: in_force

(a) If any disclosure required of a candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative by section 2414 of this title is not filed in the time and manner set forth in sections 2356, 2361, and 2402 of this title, the candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative shall be addressed as follows:

(1) The State Ethics Commission, after notification by the Office of the Secretary of State of the names of delinquent filers, shall issue a notice of delinquency to the candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative for any disclosure required of a candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative by section 2414 of this title that is not filed in the time and manner set forth in sections 2356, 2361, and 2402 of this title.

(2) Following notice of delinquency sent by the State Ethics Commission to the candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative, the candidate shall have five working days from the date of the issuance of the notice to cure the delinquency.

(3) Beginning six working days from the date of notice, the delinquent candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative shall pay a $10.00 penalty for each day thereafter that the disclosure remains delinquent; provided, however, that in no event shall the amount of any penalty imposed under this subdivision exceed $1,000.00.

(4) Notwithstanding subdivision (3) of this subsection (a), the State Ethics Commission may reduce or waive any penalty imposed under this section if the candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative demonstrates good cause, as determined by the State Ethics Commission and in the sole discretion of the State Ethics Commission.

(b) The Commission shall send a notice of delinquency to the email address provided by the candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative in the candidate's consent of candidate form.

(c) The State Ethics Commission may avail itself of remedies available under the Vermont Setoff Debt Collection Act, as set forth in 32 V.S.A. chapter 151, subchapter 12, to collect any unpaid penalty.

(d)(1) A candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative who files a disclosure with intent to defraud, falsify, conceal, or cover up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or, with intent to defraud, make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim or representation as to a material fact, or, with intent to defraud, make or use any writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim or entry as to a material fact shall be considered to have made a false claim for the purposes of 13 V.S.A. § 3016.

(2) Pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 1223 and section 2904a of this title, complaints regarding any candidate for State office, county office, State Senator, or State Representative who fails to properly file a disclosure required under this subchapter may be filed with the State Ethics Commission. The Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission shall refer complaints to the Attorney General or to the State's Attorney of jurisdiction for investigation, as appropriate.
17 V.S.A. § 2601 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 51 / Section 2601
§ 2601. Recount threshold
Status: in_force

(a)(1) In an election for federal office, statewide office, county office, or State Senator, if the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate and the number of votes cast for a losing candidate is two percent or less of the total votes cast for all the candidates for an office, divided by the number of persons to be elected, that losing candidate shall have the right to have the votes for that office recounted.

(2) In an election for State Representative, if the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate and the number of votes cast for a losing candidate is five percent or less of the total votes cast for all the candidates for an office, divided by the number of persons to be elected, that losing candidate shall have the right to have the votes for that office recounted.

(b) In the case of a recount for a local election, the threshold and procedures for conducting the recount shall be as provided in chapter 55, subchapter 3 of this title.
17 V.S.A. § 2382 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2382
§ 2382. Which committee to nominate
Status: in_force

Nominations of party candidates pursuant to this subchapter shall be made by the following political committee of the party:

(1) By the State committee in the case of President and Vice President of the United States or State or congressional officers;

(2) By the county committee in the case of county officers;

(3) By the senatorial district committee in the case of the office of State Senator;

(4) By the representative district committee in the case of the office of Representative to the General Assembly;

(5) By the town committee in the case of the office of justice of the peace.
17 V.S.A. § 2651e — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 55 / Section 2651e
§ 2651e. Municipal clerk; appointment; removal
Status: in_force

(a)(1) A municipality may vote at an annual meeting to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal clerk.

(2) A municipal clerk so appointed may be removed by the legislative body for just cause after notice and hearing.

(b) A vote to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal clerk shall remain in effect until rescinded by the majority vote of the registered voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting, duly warned for that purpose.

(c) The term of office of a municipal clerk in office on the date a municipality votes to allow the legislative body to appoint a municipal clerk shall expire 45 calendar days after the vote or on the date upon which the legislative body appoints a municipal clerk under this section, whichever occurs first, unless a petition for reconsideration or rescission is filed in accordance with section 2661 of this title.

(d) The authority to authorize the legislative body to appoint the municipal clerk as provided in this section shall extend to all municipalities except those that have a charter that specifically provides for the election or appointment of the office of municipal clerk.
17 V.S.A. § 2351 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 49 / Section 2351
§ 2351. Primary election
Status: in_force

A primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in August in each even-numbered year for the nomination of candidates of major political parties for all offices to be voted for at the succeeding general election, except candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, their electors, and justices of the peace.
17 V.S.A. § 2317 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 45 / Section 2317
§ 2317. Voters not to participate in more than one party
Status: in_force

A voter shall not vote in a town, county, or State caucus of more than one party in the same 12-month period, nor shall any voter simultaneously hold membership on the committees of more than one political party.
17 V.S.A. § 2961 — VT Code / Title 17 / Chapter 61 / Section 2961
§ 2961. Submission of reports to the Secretary of State
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The Secretary of State shall provide on the online database set forth in section 2906 of this chapter digital access to the form that he or she provides for any report required by this chapter. Digital access shall enable any person required to file a report under this chapter to file the report by completing and submitting the report to the Secretary of State online.

(2) The Secretary of State shall maintain on the online database all reports that have been filed digitally on it so that any person may have direct machine-readable electronic access to the individual data elements in each report and the ability to search those data elements as soon as a report is filed.

(b) Any person required to file a report with the Secretary of State under this chapter shall file the report digitally on the online database.

Notwithstanding the definition of “file” set forth in section 2103 of this title, such a report is required to be filed on or before the day provided in this chapter.