Source: http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/17/051
Timestamp: 2017-10-18 18:22:47
Document Index: 499680748

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2451', '§ 1', '§ 38', '§ 16', '§ 2452', '§ 1', '§ 39', '§ 2453', '§ 1', '§ 40', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 17', '§ 1', '§ 2455', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 14', '§ 4', '§ 8', '§ 2457', '§ 41', '§ 1', '§ 15', '§ 19', '§ 2458', '§ 18', '§ 1', '§ 42', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 22', '§ 1', '§ 6', '§ 2475', '§ 1', '§ 46', '§ 12', '§ 2476', '§ 2', '§ 2477', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 12', '§ 5', '§ 7', '§ 9', '§ 2480', '§ 1', '§ 2481', '§ 26', '§ 2482', '§ 120', '§ 2491', '§ 801', '§ 1', '§ 49', '§ 20', '§ 27', '§ 11', '§ 2492', '§ 43', '§ 1', '§ 51', '§ 5', '§ 22', '§ 2', '§ 8', '§ 12', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 23', '§ 9', '§ 27', '§ 2495', '§ 27', '§ 2496', '§ 2', '§ 2497', '§ 6', '§ 2499', '§ 55', '§ 3', '§ 7', '§ 12', '§ 24', '§ 27', '§ 2501', '§ 1', '§ 56', '§ 42', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 2502', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 3', '§ 82', '§ 34', '§ 2503', '§ 120', '§ 2504', '§ 1', '§ 17', '§ 2505', '§ 1', '§ 2506', '§ 1', '§ 57', '§ 2507', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2508', '§ 2509', '§ 45', '§ 2521', '§ 1', '§ 61', '§ 23', '§ 4', '§ 12', '§ 25', '§ 2522', '§ 1', '§ 62', '§ 25', '§ 26', '§ 2523', '§ 1', '§ 63', '§ 27', '§ 2531', '§ 1', '§ 64', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 1', '§ 65', '§ 31', '§ 4', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 35', '§ 13', '§ 10', '§ 2533', '§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 2534', '§ 1', '§ 22', '§ 2', '§ 5', '§ 36', '§ 2535', '§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 29', '§ 2536', '§ 1', '§ 66', '§ 6', '§ 1', '§ 67', '§ 2', '§ 7', '§ 2538', '§ 1', '§ 68', '§ 3', '§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 83', '§ 37', '§ 2540', '§ 1', '§ 70', '§ 12', '§ 2541', '§ 1', '§ 71', '§ 9', '§ 2542', '§ 1', '§ 72', '§ 3', '§ 12', '§ 28', '§ 1', '§ 73', '§ 10', '§ 2544', '§ 120', '§ 2545', '§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 1', '§ 74', '§ 12', '§ 29', '§ 8', '§ 1', '§ 39', '§ 2546', '§ 7', '§ 2547', '§ 1', '§ 6', '§ 11', '§ 14', '§ 2548', '§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 8', '§ 2549', '§ 1', '§ 2550', '§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 30', '§ 11', '§ 2561', '§ 1', '§ 75', '§ 31', '§ 10', '§ 2562', '§ 1', '§ 2563', '§ 1', '§ 44', '§ 32', '§ 2563', '§ 1', '§ 44', '§ 32', '§ 13', '§ 1', '§ 2565', '§ 1', '§ 76', '§ 71', '§ 2566', '§ 1', '§ 15', '§ 2567', '§ 1', '§ 33', '§ 84', '§ 30', '§ 2568', '§ 1', '§ 2569', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 34', '§ 16', '§ 1', '§ 77', '§ 17', '§ 2571', '§ 1', '§ 78', '§ 8', '§ 2572', '§ 1', '§ 2573', '§ 79', '§ 35', '§ 31', '§ 2581', '§ 1', '§ 80', '§ 2582', '§ 1', '§ 81', '§ 30', '§ 36', '§ 2583', '§ 1', '§ 82', '§ 3', '§ 37', '§ 32', '§ 2584', '§ 1', '§ 2585', '§ 1', '§ 2586', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 83', '§ 38', '§ 17', '§ 1', '§ 86', '§ 39', '§ 2', '§ 40', '§ 18', '§ 2589', '§ 1', '§ 2590', '§ 1', '§ 87', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 10', '§ 2591', '§ 1', '§ 47', '§ 1', '§ 88', '§ 40', '§ 2593', '§ 11', '§ 41', '§ 19', '§ 1', '§ 89', '§ 2', '§ 42', '§ 2602', '§ 5', '§ 42', '§ 20', '§ 2602', '§ 5', '§ 42', '§ 2602', '§ 21', '§ 2602', '§ 43', '§ 5', '§ 42', '§ 2602', '§ 5', '§ 42', '§ 2602', '§ 5', '§ 42', '§ 2602', '§ 5', '§ 42', '§ 2602', '§ 43', '§ 1', '§ 94', '§ 19', '§ 6', '§ 15', '§ 141', '§ 2604', '§ 7', '§ 2605', '§ 1', '§ 96', '§ 2606', '§ 1', '§ 97', '§ 2607', '§ 1', '§ 2616', '§ 1', '§ 238', '§ 2617', '§ 1']

Chapter 051: CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
Subchapter 001: ELECTION OFFICIALS
§ 2451. Board of civil authority
The board of civil authority shall have charge of the conduct of elections within the political subdivision for which it is elected. 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. 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. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 38; 2003, No. 59, § 16.)
§ 2452. Presiding officer
(a) The town clerk shall be the presiding officer unless the town by vote at an annual meeting or by charter shall provide otherwise. If the regular presiding officer is unavailable or unable to preside at any given election, then the board of civil authority shall promptly appoint a voter of the town to serve as the presiding officer at that election.
(b) If more than one polling place is used, the board shall appoint a presiding officer for each additional polling place. These presiding officers for additional polling places shall be appointed for no more than two year terms, but may be reappointed and may have their appointments revoked. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 39.)
§ 2453. Duties of presiding officer
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. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 40.)
(a) Prior to the day of the election, the board of civil authority shall appoint a sufficient number of voters from each municipality to serve as assistant election officers. As far as possible, the board shall attempt to appoint an equal number of persons from each major political party. Each assistant election officer shall be sworn prior to entering on the performance of his or her duties. An assistant town clerk may serve as an assistant elections officer, regardless of his or her residence.
(b) The board of civil authority may appoint residents of a municipality who are 16 or 17 years old to serve as assistant elections officers in their respective polling places. Youth assistant elections officers shall have the same duties as adult assistant elections officers but shall work under the direct supervision of adult elections officials. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2003, No. 4, § 1; 2003, No. 59, § 17; 2009, No. 40, § 1.)
§ 2455. Duties of election officials
The assistant election officers, together with the presiding officer and the board of civil authority, shall constitute the election officials. Except as may be specifically provided in this title, the presiding officer shall notify each election official of the hours when he or she shall be present to work at the polls and the duties assigned to each election official. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
Notwithstanding the preceding sections of this subchapter, no person shall serve as an election official in any election in which his or her name appears on a ballot of the Australian ballot system as a candidate for any office unless he or she is the only candidate for that office, or unless the office for which he or she is a candidate is that of moderator, justice of the peace, town clerk, treasurer, ward clerk, or inspector of elections. When an Australian ballot is not used, a person shall not serve as an election official during the election to fill any office for which he or she is a nominee. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; 2001, No. 5, § 4; 2007, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 8.)
§ 2457. Workshops and information for election officials
(a) The Secretary of State or his or her designee shall organize regional workshops for election officials, provide them with informational materials about the conduct of elections and recounts, and otherwise help them run elections in conformance with State and federal law.
(b)(1) The regular presiding officer of each town or an assistant designated by the board of civil authority shall attend, at the town's expense, at least one of these election workshops every two years.
(2) Each town clerk shall file with the Secretary of State by December 31 of each even-numbered year a letter certifying compliance with this subsection.
(c)(1) The town clerk of each town shall provide the Secretary of State with the names and addresses of all members of the board of civil authority and shall promptly notify the Secretary of State of any changes in the list.
(2) The Secretary of State shall invite all members of the boards of civil authority to the workshops and provide them with informational materials. (Added 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 41; amended 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2003, No. 59, § 15; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 19.)
§ 2458. Complaint procedure
The secretary of state shall adopt rules to establish a uniform and nondiscriminatory complaint procedure to be used by any person who believes that a violation of this title or any other provision of Title III of United States Public Law 107-252 has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur. For purposes of this section, "complaint" shall mean a statement in writing made by a voter stating, with particularity, the violation, notarized, and sworn or affirmed under penalty of perjury. The secretary's rules shall provide for an informal proceeding to hear complaints for all complainants unless a formal hearing is requested. Formal complaints held pursuant to this section shall be in conformance with the rules adopted by the secretary. Any decision of the secretary may be appealed to the superior court in the county where the individual resides. (Added 2003, No. 59, § 18.)
Subchapter 002: BALLOTS
(a)(1) A consolidated ballot shall be used at a general election, which shall list the several candidates for the offices to be voted upon. The offices of President and Vice President of the United States, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts, Attorney General, State Senator, Representative to the General Assembly, Judge of Probate, Assistant Judge, State's Attorney, Sheriff, and High Bailiff shall be listed in that order. Any statewide public question shall also be listed on the ballot, before the listing of all offices to be filled.
(2) The ballot shall be prepared at State expense under the direction of the Secretary of State. The color of the ballot shall be determined by the Secretary of State. The printing shall be black. Ballots shall be printed on index stock and configured to be readable by vote tabulators. The font shall be at least 10 points for candidate names unless a name exceeds 24 characters, in which case the candidate may change his or her consent form name to 24 characters or less, or the font may be reduced as needed to fit the candidate name space.
(b) Ballots for justices shall be prepared at town expense, under the direction of the town clerk, in the town in which they are to be used. The printing shall be black and shall conform as nearly as possible to the format of the general election ballot. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 42; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1993, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2007, No. 54, § 4; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 22.)
(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) 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 of that fact, and within two weeks thereafter, the candidate shall file with the secretary of state, a list of freemen equal to the number of electors which the state is entitled to elect. The list shall be signed by the candidate personally. The persons so named shall be electors, having the duties prescribed in this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2007, No. 54, § 6.)
(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 which the nominee so elects shall be printed next to the nominee's name on the ballot.
§ 2475. Death or withdrawal of candidate
When a candidate dies or withdraws and the vacancy is filled as provided in chapter 49 of this title, the name supplied for the vacancy shall be inserted instead of the original nomination. If the ballots have already been printed, the officer who furnished them shall prepare and furnish new ballots. The town clerk in each town shall, upon delivery of the new ballots, immediately destroy all original ballots except those already supplied to or used by early or absentee voters. Such early or absentee voter ballots shall be acceptable and counted with the other ballots. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 46; 2001, No. 6, § 12(b), eff. April 10, 2001.)
§ 2476. Repealed. 1985, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.
§ 2477. Repealed. 2003, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.
Not later than 45 days before the election, the secretary of state shall furnish the prepared ballots to the clerk of each town. Ballots shall be sent in securely fastened packages by mail or in some other safe manner, with marks on the outside clearly designating the polling place for which they are intended and the number of ballots enclosed. The town clerk shall store the ballots, except for ballots used as early or absentee voter or sample ballots, in a secure place until the day of the election, at which time the town clerk shall deliver them in sufficient quantities to the presiding officer in each polling place, together with any ballots prepared by the town clerk. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2001, No. 6, § 12(b), eff. April 10, 2001; 2001, No. 83 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2007, No. 54, § 7; 2009, No. 73 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. April 7, 2010.)
§ 2480. Substitute ballots
If the ballots to be furnished to a polling place are not duly delivered or if, after delivery, they are destroyed or stolen or if the number proves insufficient, the presiding officer shall cause other ballots to be prepared substantially in the form of those so wanting. Upon delivery of such ballots at the polling place by him or her, accompanied by his or her statement under oath, which shall be recorded by the town clerk, that the same have been so prepared and furnished by him or her and that he or she failed to receive the original ballots or that the same have been destroyed or stolen or that the number has proved insufficient, the ballot clerks shall cause such substituted ballots to be used in place of those wanting. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2481. Printed ballots required
Except in the case of voice votes from the floor, divisions, or voting at a floor meeting by paper ballot at a local election, no voting shall occur in any local, primary, or general election which does not use printed ballots. (Added 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 26.)
§ 2482. Repealed. 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 120.
Subchapter 003: VOTE TABULATORS
§ 2491. Political subdivision; vote tabulators
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a board of civil authority may, at a meeting held not less than 60 days prior to an election and warned pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 801, vote to require the political subdivision for which it is elected to use vote tabulators for the registering and counting of votes in subsequent elections.
(b) A town with 1,000 or more registered voters as of December 31 in even-numbered years shall use vote tabulators for the registering and counting of votes in subsequent elections.
(c)(1) The Office of the Secretary of State shall pay the following costs associated with this section by using federal Help America Vote Act funds, as available:
(A) full purchase and warranty cost of vote tabulators, ballot boxes, and two memory cards for each tabulator;
(B) annual maintenance costs of vote tabulators for each town; and
(C) the first $500.00 of the first pair of a vote tabulator's memory cards' configuration costs for each primary and general election.
(2) A town shall pay the remainder of any cost not covered by subdivision (1) of this subsection. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 49; 2003, No. 59, § 20; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 2015, No. 30, § 11.)
§ 2492. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 43.
(4)(A) All vote tabulators shall be set to reject a ballot that contains an overvote and provide the voter the opportunity to correct the overvote, have the ballot declared spoiled, and obtain another ballot. 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) Each vote tabulator shall be tested using official ballots that are marked clearly as "test ballots" at least 10 days prior to an election.
(e) A municipality only may use a vote tabulator as provided in this title which registers and counts votes cast on paper ballots and which 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. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 51; 2001, No. 5, § 5; 2003, No. 59, § 22; 2003, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2007, No. 54, § 8; 2015, No. 30, § 12, eff. May 26, 2015.)
(a) Except as this subchapter affects the method of registering votes and ascertaining the result, the laws of this State pertaining to elections shall be applicable. The laws pertaining to early or absentee voters shall in no way be affected by this subchapter, and votes cast by early or absentee voters shall be counted with votes counted on vote tabulators.
(b) In towns using vote tabulators, the board of civil authority may vote to open polling places at 5:00 a.m., provided that at least three elections officials are present, two of whom are from different parties. If all early voter absentee ballots have not been deposited into the vote tabulators before the closing of the polls at 7:00 p.m., the elections officials shall continue to deposit ballots using the same procedure as provided in subsection 2561(b) of this title, treating each ballot as a voter waiting to cast his or her ballot at the close of the polls. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 6, § 2, eff. April 10, 2001; 2003, No. 59, § 23; 2007, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 9; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 27.)
§ 2495. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 27.
§ 2496. Repealed. 1999, No. 2, § 2.
§§ 2497, 2498. Repealed. 2001, No. 5, § 6.
§ 2499. Transfer of paper ballots from vote tabulators
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. (Added 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 55; amended 1985, No. 203 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2001, No. 5, § 7; 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), eff. April 10, 2001; 2003, No. 59, § 24; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 27.)
Subchapter 004: POLLING PLACES
§ 2501. Determining districts
(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 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. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 56; 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 42; 1985, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1991, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 25, 1992.)
§ 2502. Location of polling places
(a) Each polling place shall be located in a public place within the town.
(b) The board of civil authority shall take such measures as are necessary to assure that voters who are elders or have a disability may conveniently and secretly cast their votes. Measures which may be taken shall include: location of polling places on the ground floor of a building; providing ramps, elevators, or other facilities for access to the polling place; providing a stencil overlay for ballots; providing a separate polling place with direct communication to the main polling place; and permitting election officials to carry a ballot to an elder or to a person who has a disability in order to permit that person to mark the ballot while in a motor vehicle adjacent to the polling place. For purposes of this subsection, the board of civil authority shall have full jurisdiction on the day of an election over the premises at which a polling place is located.
(c)(1) Thirty days prior to a local, primary, or general election, the town clerk shall submit to the Secretary of State a list of polling places within the municipality that will be used in that election. The list shall include the name of the polling location, its physical address, and the time the polling place will open.
(2)(A) A municipality may change the location of a polling place less than 30 days prior to an election only in cases of emergency. If a municipality changes the location of a polling place less than 30 days prior to the election, the town clerk shall notify the Secretary of State within 24 hours of the change and provide the new polling place information.
(B) The Secretary of State shall assist any municipality that needs to change the location of a polling place on the day of an election due to an emergency, including assisting in finding a new location and informing the public of that new location.
(C) The Secretary of State shall inform the State chairs of Vermont's major political parties of any changes made to polling places that he or she is aware of made less than 30 days prior to an election.
(3) The Secretary of State shall provide on his or her official website a list of polling places that will be used in any local, primary, or general election within the State, and shall specifically provide notice on that website of any change in the location of a municipality's polling place. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 11; 1991, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. April 25, 1992; 2003, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 82; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 34.)
§ 2503. Repealed. 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 120.
§ 2504. Voting booths
At each polling place, there shall be a sufficient number, as determined by the board of civil authority, of voting booths. Each booth shall be of sturdy construction and shall allow a voter to mark his or her ballot conveniently without having his or her choices observed by any other person. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 17.)
§ 2505. Guardrail
A guardrail shall be so constructed that only persons inside the rail can approach within six feet of the ballot boxes and voting booths. Neither the ballot boxes nor the voting booths shall be hidden from those outside the guardrail. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2506. Ballot boxes; signs for depositing ballots
All ballot boxes shall be rigid wood or metal containers. Ballot boxes shall be furnished at the expense of the town where they are to be used. When not in use, ballot boxes shall be in the custody of the town clerk. During voting hours there shall be signs, provided by the secretary of state, placed on or near ballot boxes telling voters to deposit their own ballots in the ballot boxes. This requirement shall not apply to the ballot boxes used during primary elections for the collection of unvoted ballots, in which instance unvoted ballots are inserted by election officials. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 57.)
§ 2507. Distribution of checklists
The town clerk shall furnish the presiding officer of each polling place with two certified copies of the checklist applicable to that polling place. One copy shall be used to check voters before they enter within the guardrail, and, unless the board of civil authority votes not to use an exit checklist, the other copy shall be used to check voters as they leave. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1999, No. 2, § 1.)
§ 2508. Campaigning during polling hours; voter access
(1) Within the building containing a polling place, no campaign literature, stickers, buttons, name stamps, information on write-in candidates, or other political materials are displayed, placed, handed out, or allowed to remain; and
(2) Within the building containing a polling place, no candidate, election official, or other person distributes election materials, solicits voters, or otherwise campaigns; and
§ 2509. Repealed. 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 45, eff. July 1, 1982.
Subchapter 005: WARNINGS, NOTICES, SAMPLE BALLOTS AND OTHER VOTER INFORMATION
§ 2521. Warnings and notices
(a) Not less than 30 days before the election, the town clerk shall cause a warning and notice to be posted informing the voters of the town about the election. The warning shall include the date and time of the election, location of the polling place or places, nature of the election, and offices or questions to be voted upon. The notice shall contain information on voter registration and early or absentee voting, on how to obtain ballots, mark them, get help marking them, and obtain new ballots in place of those accidentally spoiled; information about offenses relating to elections; how to get help if there is a problem on election day; instructions for registrants by mail; instructions for first-time voters; instructions on who may cast a provisional ballot; instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot; information on federal and state laws prohibiting fraud and misrepresentation; instructions on how to contact the appropriate official if a person believes any of his or her rights to vote have been violated; and other appropriate information. The warning and notice shall be posted in at least two public places within each town and in or near the town clerk's office. If a town has more than one polling place, 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. The checklist shall also be posted as required in section 2141 of this title.
(b) The secretary of state shall prepare forms for the warning and notice and shall furnish each town clerk with at least five copies of the forms for each polling place in the town at least five days before they must be posted. Information required in the warnings and notices which varies from town to town shall be left blank by the secretary of state and filled in by the town clerk. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 61; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 1989, No. 211 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2001, No. 6, § 12(c), eff. April 10, 2001; 2003, No. 59, § 25.)
§ 2522. Sample ballots
(a) As soon as ballots are received by the town clerk, but not later than 20 days prior to any primary or general election or 10 days prior to any municipal election, the town clerk shall post sample ballots in at least two public places within the town and in or near the town clerk's office. If a town has more than one polling place and the polling places are not all in the same building, the sample ballot shall be posted in at least two public places within each voting district and in or near the town clerk's office.
(b) The town clerk shall prepare the sample ballots by marking the words SAMPLE BALLOT prominently at the top of official election ballots.
(d) Upon the request of any high school or other educational institution in the town, the town clerk shall deliver a sample ballot to the high school or educational institution. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 62; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 25; 2003, No. 59, § 26.)
§ 2523. Posting at polling place on election day
(a) Before the polls open on election day, the presiding officer shall post copies of the warning and notice and the sample ballots conspicuously in and about the polling place so that voters can reasonably be expected to see them before voting.
(b) The presiding officer shall ensure that signs are placed on or near the ballot boxes informing voters of procedures for depositing ballots. The secretary of state shall supply the signs. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 63; 2003, No. 59, § 27.)
Subchapter 006: EARLY OR ABSENTEE VOTERS
§ 2531. Application for early voter absentee ballot
(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) All applications shall be filed with the town clerk of the town in which the early or absentee voter is registered to vote. 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) Voting by early voter absentee ballot shall be allowed only in elections using the Australian ballot system. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 64; 1993, No. 79, § 1; 2001, No. 6, § 3, eff. April 10, 2001.)
(a)(1) An early or absentee voter, or an authorized family member or health care provider acting in the voter's behalf, may apply for an early voter absentee ballot by telephone, in person, or in writing. "Family member" here means a person's spouse, children, brothers, sisters, parents, spouse's parents, grandparents, and spouse's grandparents. Any other authorized person may apply in writing or in person.
(2) The application shall be in substantially the following form:
If applicant is other than early or absentee voter:
Name of applicant: ______________________________________________
Address of applicant: ____________________________________________
Relationship to early or absentee voter: ______________________________
Organization, if applicable: _______________________________________
Date: _____________ Signature of applicant: _____________________
(3) If the application is made by telephone or in writing, the information supplied must be in substantial conformance with the information requested on this form.
(b) A person temporarily residing in a foreign country who is eligible to register to vote in this State, or a military service absentee voter who is eligible to register to vote in this State, may apply for early voter absentee ballots in the same manner and within the same time limits that apply for other early or absentee voters. An official federal postcard application shall suffice as a simultaneous request for an application for addition to the checklist and for an early voter absentee ballot, when properly submitted. Any other person also may make a simultaneous request for an application for addition to the checklist and for an early voter absentee ballot.
Subsection (c) effective until January 1, 2017; see also subsection (c) effective January 1, 2017 set out below.
(c) If the request is made for a person who is not yet registered and the request is received by the town clerk prior to the voter registration deadline set forth in subsection 2144(a) of this title, the town clerk shall mail a blank application for addition to the checklist, together with a full set of early voter absentee ballots, to that person. All such applications for addition to the checklist that are returned to the town clerk before the close of the polls on election day shall be considered and acted upon by the board of civil authority before the ballots are counted. If the application is approved and the name added to the checklist, the early voter absentee ballots cast by that voter shall be treated as other valid early voter absentee ballots.
Subsection (c) effective January 1, 2017; see also subsection (c) effective until January 1, 2017 set out above.
(c) If the request is made for a person who is not yet registered and the request is received by the town clerk prior to the deadline for requesting early voter absentee ballots set forth in section 2531 of this chapter, the town clerk shall mail a blank application for addition to the checklist, together with a full set of early voter absentee ballots, to that person. All such applications for addition to the checklist that are returned to the town clerk before the close of the polls on election day shall be considered and acted upon by the board of civil authority before the ballots are counted. If the application is approved and the name added to the checklist, the early voter absentee ballots cast by that voter shall be treated as other valid early voter absentee ballots.
(d) An application for an early voter absentee ballot shall be valid for only one election, unless specific request is made by an early or absentee voter that the application be valid for both a primary election, excluding a presidential primary, and the general election next following, as long as both ballots are to be mailed to the same address.
(e) A person residing in a State institution may apply for early voter absentee ballots in the same manner and within the same time limits that apply for other early or absentee voters.
(f) The town clerk may, upon application, issue a duplicate early voter absentee ballot if the original ballot is not received by the voter within a reasonable period of time after mailing. The application may be made by a person entitled to apply for an early voter absentee ballot under subsection (a) of this section and shall be accompanied by a sworn statement affirming that the voter has not received the original ballot. If a duplicate early voter absentee ballot is issued and both the duplicate and original early voter absentee ballots are received before the close of the polls on election day, the ballot with the earlier postmark shall be counted.
(g)(1) Any person who applies for an early voter absentee ballot knowing the person is without authorization from the early or absentee voter shall be fined not more than $100.00 per violation for the first three violations; not more than $500.00 per violation for the fourth through ninth violations; and not more than $1,000.00 per violation for the tenth and subsequent violations.
(2) The Attorney General or a State's Attorney, whenever he or she has reason to believe any person to be or to have been in violation of this provision, shall conduct a civil investigation in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 2904 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 65; 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 31; 1985, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1985, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 11, 12; 1989, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1993, No. 80, § 1; 2001, No. 6, § 4, eff. April 10, 2001; 2001, No. 83 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2003, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2007, No. 72, § 2; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 35; 2015, No. 30, § 13, eff. May 26, 2015; 2015, No. 44, § 10, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.)
§ 2533. Notification of invalid application
If the town clerk finds an application for an early or absentee voter ballot which has been submitted to him or her to be invalid or incomplete, he or she shall immediately notify the person making the application, either personally or by mail, stating the ground on which the same is found to be invalid. The application may be corrected but shall not be valid unless it is returned corrected to the clerk within the time allowed for submitting an original application. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 6, § 12(b), eff. April 10, 2001.)
§ 2534. List of early or absentee voters
(a) The Secretary of State shall make accessible for each primary election, presidential primary election, and general election a statewide list of voters who have requested an early voter absentee ballot. The list shall contain the State voter identification number, name, registration address, address the ballot was mailed to, and legislative district of each voter.
(b) Upon receipt of the valid applications, the town clerk shall update the Secretary of State's statewide list of early or absentee voters by a method approved by the Secretary of State. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 22; 1993, No. 79, § 2; 2001, No. 6, § 5, eff. April 10, 2001; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 36, eff. July 1, 2015.)
§ 2535. Form of early voter absentee ballots and envelopes; federal or military requirements
(a) Early voter absentee ballots shall be the same as the official ballots to be used at the election.
(b) If necessary, special ballots may be prepared to conform with minimum federal or military regulations and orders covering the transportation of such ballots, provided that the text is identical in substance, except as to type size, with that appearing on the official ballots.
(c) Envelopes, including return envelopes, containing early voter absentee ballots may, as circumstances require, be particularly imprinted, stamped, or superscribed with approved identification words or symbols designating the same as "Vermont Official Early or Absentee Voter Ballot" and with such additional words or devices as are necessary to comply with any censorship regulations or rules which may be in effect at the time of mailing. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), (b), eff. April 10, 2001; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 29.)
§ 2536. Furnishing early voter absentee ballot envelopes
Upon request, the secretary of state shall furnish the envelopes prescribed in sections 2535 and 2542 of this title to town clerks in such numbers as they request. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 66; 2001, No. 6, § 6, eff. April 10, 2001.)
A voter may, if he or she chooses, apply in person to the town clerk for the early voter absentee ballots and envelopes rather than having them mailed as required by section 2539 of this title. In this case, the clerk shall furnish the early voter absentee ballots and envelopes when a valid application has been made. The voter may mark his or her ballots, seal them in the envelope, sign the certificate, and return the ballots in the sealed envelope to the town clerk or an assistant town clerk, without leaving the office of the town clerk, or the voter may take the ballots and return them to the town clerk in the same manner as if the ballots had been received by mail. No person, except justices of the peace as provided in section 2538 of this title, may take any ballot from the town clerk on behalf of any other person. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 67; 1993, No. 80, § 2; 2001, No. 6, § 7, eff. April 10, 2001.)
§ 2538. Delivery of ballots by justices of the peace
(a)(1) In the case of persons who are early or absentee voters due to illness or physical disability, ballots shall be delivered in the following manner unless the early or absentee voter has requested pursuant to section 2539 of this title that the early voter absentee ballots be mailed.
(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 or physical disability but who have not requested in their applications that early voter absentee ballots be mailed to them. No pair shall 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) No candidate or spouse, parent, or child of a candidate shall be eligible to perform the duties prescribed by this section unless the candidate involved is not disqualified by section 2456 of this title from serving as an election official. This shall not prevent a candidate for district office from serving as a justice in another district.
(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.
(b) The town clerk shall divide the list of applicants who have an illness or physical 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. 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. 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) 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. 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 ballot, they may be marked by one of the justices in full view of the other. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 68; 1995, No. 95 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1997, No. 17, § 1; 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), (b), eff. April 10, 2001; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 83; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 37.)
§ 2540. Instructions to be sent with ballots
(a) The town clerk shall send with all early voter absentee ballots and envelopes printed instructions, which may be included on the envelope, in substantially the following form:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EARLY OR ABSENTEE VOTERS
1. Mark the ballots.
2. Seal them in this envelope.
3. Fill out and sign the certificate on the envelope.
4. Mail or deliver the sealed envelope containing the ballots to the town clerk of the town where you are a registered voter in time to arrive no later than election day.
Note: If these ballots have been brought to you personally by two justices of the peace because of your illness or physical disability, just return them to the justices after you have sealed and signed the envelope. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MARK YOUR BALLOTS IN PRIVATE - but if you ask for help in filling out the ballots, they will give it to you.
BE SURE TO FILL OUT AND SIGN THE CERTIFICATE ON THIS ENVELOPE OR YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT!
(b) In the case of early absentee voting in a primary, the instructions shall also include appropriate instructions prepared by the secretary of state for separating and depositing unvoted ballots in a separate envelope provided and clearly marked for that purpose.
(Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 70; 2001, No. 6, §§ 12(a)-12(c), eff. April 10, 2001.)
§ 2541. Marking of ballots
(a) An early or absentee voter to whom ballots, envelopes, and instructions are mailed shall mark the ballots in accordance with the instructions.
(b) When an early or absentee voter is blind or is physically unable to go to the polls to vote in person or to mark his or her ballots, they may be marked by one of the officers who delivers the ballots, in the presence of the other officer. A person who gives assistance to a voter in the marking or registering of ballots shall not in any way divulge any information regarding the choice of the voter or the manner in which the voter's ballot was cast.
(c) If an early or absentee voter spoils a ballot, the voter may return the spoiled ballot by mail or in person to the town clerk and receive another ballot, consistent with the provisions of section 2568 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 71; 2001, No. 6, § 9, eff. April 10, 2001.)
§ 2542. Signing certificate
(a) There shall be printed on the face of the envelope provided for use in returning early voter absentee ballots a certificate in substantially the following form:
"Early or Absentee Voter Ballots of ___________________________"
I, ____________________________, solemnly swear or affirm that I am a resident of the town (city) of ________________, State of Vermont, and that I am a legal voter in this town (city).
(b) The early or absentee voter must sign the certificate on the outside of the envelope in order for the ballot to be valid. When an early or absentee voter is physically unable to sign his or her name, he or she may mark an "X" or take an oath swearing or affirming to the statement on the certificate. The officers who deliver the ballots shall witness the mark or oath and sign their names with a statement attesting to this fact on the envelope. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 72; 1993, No. 80, § 3; 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), (b), eff. April 10, 2001; 2003, No. 59, § 28.)
After marking the ballots and signing the certificate on the envelope, the early or absentee voter to whom the same are addressed shall return the ballots to the clerk of the town in which he or she is a voter, in the manner prescribed, except that in the case of a voter to whom ballots are delivered by justices, the ballots shall be returned to the justices calling upon him or her, and they shall deliver them to the town clerk. Once an early voter absentee ballot has been returned to the clerk in the sealed envelope with the signed certificate, it shall be stored in a secure place and shall not be returned to the voter for any reason. All early voter absentee ballots returned to the clerk before the polls close on election day shall be counted. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 73; 2001, No. 6, § 10, eff. April 10, 2001.)
§ 2544. Repealed. 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 120.
§ 2545. Receipt of marked ballots by town clerk; delivery to election officers
Upon receipt of the envelope containing the marked ballots of an early or absentee voter, the town clerk shall record the fact on the list of early or absentee voters and safely keep the envelope until election day. During the hours that the polls are open, he or she shall deliver the envelope to the presiding officer in the polling place where the early or absentee voter would have voted if he or she had voted in person. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 6, § 12(b), eff. April 10, 2001.)
(a)(1)(A) No sooner than 30 days before the opening of polls on election day, the town clerk of a municipality with at least 300 registered voters on its checklist may direct two election officials working together to open the outside envelope in order to sort early voter absentee ballots by ward and district, may data enter the return of the ballots by the voter, may determine that the certificate has been signed, and may place the inside envelopes in various secure containers to be transported to the polling places on election day.
(B) No sooner than 48 hours before the opening of polls on election day, a town clerk in all other municipalities may direct two election officials working together to open the outside envelope and remove the certificate envelope in order to determine that an early voter absentee ballot certificate has been properly signed by the early voter, and that the name of the early voter appears on the checklist.
(2) The election officials shall check the name of the early voter off the entrance checklist and place the sealed envelope into a secure container marked "checked in early voter absentee ballots" to be transported to the polling place on election day.
(3) Upon opening of the polls on election day, ballots from this container shall be opened by election officials, who are not members of the same political party, and deposited either into the ballot box or into the vote tabulator.
(b) The town clerk or presiding officer shall deliver the unopened early voter absentee ballots to the election officials at the place where the entrance checklist is located.
(1) If the ballots are in a container marked "checked in early voter absentee ballots," two election officials from different political parties shall open the envelopes and deposit the ballots into the ballot box or into the vote tabulator.
(2) If the ballots have not been previously checked off the entrance checklist and if an election official determines that the certificate on the envelope is signed by the early voter, the name of the early voter appears on the checklist, and the early voter is not a first-time voter in the municipality who registered by mail, the election official shall mark the checklist, open the envelope, and deposit the ballot in the proper ballot box or vote tabulator.
(3) If the early voter is a first-time voter who registered by mail, the election official shall determine whether the identification required under subdivision 2563(1) of this title has been submitted by the voter. Upon ascertaining that the proper identification has been submitted by the voter, the election official shall mark the checklist, open the envelope, and deposit the ballot in the proper ballot box or vote tabulator. If the proper identification has not been submitted, the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot, as provided in subchapter 6A of this chapter.
(c) All early voter absentee ballots shall be commingled with the ballots of voters who have voted in person. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 74; 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), (b), eff. April 10, 2001; 2003, No. 59, § 29; 2007, No. 54, § 8b; 2009, No. 70 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 39.)
[Section 2546a effective January 1, 2017.]§ 2546a. Day preceding election; deposit of early voter absentee ballots in vote tabulator
(a) Generally. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a town will be using a vote tabulator for the registering and counting of votes in the upcoming election and will check in early voter absentee ballots in accordance with subsection 2546(a) of this chapter for that election, the board of civil authority may vote to permit elections officials to deposit those early voter absentee ballots into the vote tabulator in accordance with the provisions of this section. This depositing of these ballots shall take place at the town clerk's office on the day preceding the election.
(1) If a board of civil authority votes to deposit ballots as described in subsection (a) of this section, the town clerk shall post notice that ballots will be so deposited 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 election. If a municipality has more than one polling place and the polling places are not all in the same building, the notice shall be posted in at least two public places within each voting district and in or near the town clerk's office.
(2) In addition, at least five days before the day preceding the election, the notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality and on the municipality's website, if the municipality actively updates its website on a regular basis.
(3) The notice shall include the date and time for the count, inspection, and depositing of the ballots and the location of the town clerk's office.
(c) Officials. The town clerk and at least two other election officials, from different political parties to the extent practicable, shall be present for the inspection of the sealed certificate envelopes and the processing of the ballots described in this section.
(d) Count and inspection. On the day preceding the election, at least one hour prior to depositing the ballots in the vote tabulator, the town clerk and the election officials shall:
(1) first open the secure container marked "checked in early voter absentee ballots," count the sealed certificate envelopes containing those ballots, and record the number counted; and
(2) permit these sealed certificate envelopes to be inspected by members of the public.
(1) Immediately after the expiration of the period for the count and inspection described in subsection (d) of this section, the town clerk and election officials shall open each sealed certificate envelope containing an early voter absentee ballot and deposit each ballot into a vote tabulator.
(2) The town clerk and the election officials shall ensure that all procedures for handling ballots are followed to the fullest extent practicable.
(3) At the end of the processing, the town clerk shall verify that the vote tabulator's memory card is locked in place and shall sign a statement verifying how many early voter absentee ballots were counted by the vote tabulator and that the memory card is so locked. The town clerk shall compare the vote tabulator's number of counted ballots to the original count of those ballots described in subsection (d) of this section.
(f) Security. The town clerk shall otherwise comply with all provisions of this title relating to the security of the vote tabulator.
(g) Election day. On the day of the election, when the vote tabulator is turned on at the polling place, the town clerk shall verify that the number of ballots that the vote tabulator displays as having been counted matches the number that the town clerk verified the tabulator counted on the preceding day.
(h) Rules. The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section. (Added 2015, No. 80 (Adj. Sess.), § 7a, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.)
§ 2547. Defective ballots
If upon examination by the election officials it shall appear that the early or absentee voter is not legally qualified to vote, or has voted in person, or that the affidavit on any envelope is insufficient, the certificate is not signed, or the voted ballot is not in the voted ballot envelope, or, in the case of a primary vote, the early or absentee voter has failed to return the unvoted primary ballots, such envelope shall be marked "defective," and the ballots inside shall not be counted and shall be returned in the unopened envelope to the town clerk in the manner prescribed by section 2590 of this title. The provisions of this section shall be indicated prominently in the early or absentee voter material prepared by the Secretary of State. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2001, No. 6, § 11, eff. April 10, 2001; 2015, No. 30, § 14, eff. May 26, 2015.)
§ 2548. Voting in person
(a) Prior to the opening of the polls, the municipal clerk shall provide the election officials of each polling place with a list of the names of all persons who have marked and returned early voter absentee ballots, and these persons shall not thereafter vote in person in the same election.
(b) A person who in good faith has received early voter absentee ballots for his or her use but has not yet marked them, if he or she is able to vote in person, may cast the early voter absentee ballots as provided above, or may vote in person after returning the complete set of unmarked ballots, together with the envelope intended for their return, to the presiding officer at the time the voter appears to vote in person. If a person does not have his or her absentee ballots to return, the person shall be checked off the checklist and permitted to vote only after completing a sworn affidavit that he or she does not have his or her absentee ballots to return. The presiding officer shall return the unused early voter absentee ballots and envelope to the town clerk, who shall make a record of their return on the list of early or absentee voters and treat them as spoiled or unused ballots, pursuant to section 2568 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), (b), eff. April 10, 2001; 2007, No. 54, § 8c.)
§ 2549. Use of federal war ballot
In addition to and supplementing the provisions of this title, the provisions of any federal statute for a federal war ballot and for procedures affecting and facilitating voting by members of the military service of the United States are hereby authorized for use in this state. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2550. Early or absentee voters deemed "present and voting"
A voter voting by early voter absentee ballot shall be deemed as "present and voting," for purposes of any provision in which the phrase "present and voting" is used in the Vermont statutes annotated or in the acts of the general assembly. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), (b), eff. April 10, 2001.)
Subchapter 006A: PROVISIONAL VOTING AND VOTER AFFIRMATION
Subdivision (2) effective until January 1, 2017; see also subdivision (2) effective January 1, 2017 set out below.
(2) An attestation by the provisional voter that he or she submitted a properly completed voter application form before the application deadline. The attestation shall be signed by the provisional voter under penalty of perjury.
Subdivision (2) effective January 1, 2017; see also subdivision (2) effective until January 1, 2017 set out above.
(4) A statement informing the provisional voter: "Provisional balloting allows a provisional voter only to vote in federal elections. If you wish to vote in any other State or local election, you should return this form to the elections officials and file an appeal in Superior Court in the county in which you live pursuant to section 2148 of this title. If you choose to vote by provisional ballot, after the close of the polls, the town clerk will determine whether you meet all eligibility requirements. If the clerk denies your application, he or she will inform you that the application has been denied." (Added 2003, No. 59, § 30, eff. June 7, 2003; amended 2015, No. 44, § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.)
Subchapter 007: PROCESS OF VOTING
§ 2561. Hours of voting; extended hours
(a) At all elections using the Australian ballot system, the polls may open no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and shall open no later than 10:00 a.m. as set by the board of civil authority in each town. The polls in all polling places shall close at 7:00 p.m.
(b) If at the hour of closing there are any qualified voters at the polling place desiring to vote, who have been unable to do so since appearing there, the polls shall be kept open long enough after the hour of closing to allow those present a reasonable opportunity to vote. A person not present at the hour of closing shall not be entitled to vote, although the polls may not actually be closed when he or she arrives. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 75; 2003, No. 59, § 31; 2007, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 10.)
§ 2562. Presiding officer to assign duties to election officials
At each polling place, the presiding officer shall assign specific duties to each election official present. Insofar as practical, he or she shall assign election officials to work in pairs, with each pair containing members from different political parties. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
[Section 2563 effective until January 1, 2017; see also section 2563 effective January 1, 2017 set out below.]§ 2563. Admitting voter
Before a person may be admitted to vote, he or she shall announce his or her name and if requested, his or her place of residence in a clear and audible tone of voice, or present his or her name in writing, or otherwise identify himself or herself by appropriate documentation. The election officials attending the entrance of the polling place shall then verify that the person's name appears on the checklist for the polling place. If the name does appear, and if no one immediately challenges the person's right to vote on grounds of identity or having previously voted in the same election, the election officials shall repeat the name of the person and:
(1) If the checklist indicates that the person is a first-time voter in the municipality who registered by mail and who has not provided required identification before the opening of the polls, require the person to present any one of the following: a valid photo identification; a copy of a current utility bill; a copy of a current bank statement; or a copy of a government check, paycheck, or any other government document that shows the current name and address of the voter. If the person is unable to produce the required information, the person shall be afforded the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot, as provided in subchapter 6A of this chapter. The elections official shall note upon the checklist a first-time voter in the municipality who has registered by mail and who produces the required information, and place a mark next to the voter's name on the checklist and allow the voter to proceed to the voting booth for the purpose of voting.
(2) If the voter is not a first-time voter in the municipality, no identification shall be required, the clerk shall place a check next to the voter's name on the checklist and allow the voter to proceed to the voting booth for the purpose of voting. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 44; 2003, No. 59, § 32.)
[Section 2563 effective January 1, 2017; see also section 2563 effective until January 1, 2017 set out above.]§ 2563. Admitting voter
Before a person may be admitted to vote, he or she shall announce his or her name and if requested, his or her place of residence in a clear and audible tone of voice, or present his or her name in writing, or otherwise identify himself or herself by appropriate documentation. The election officials attending the entrance of the polling place shall then verify that the person's name appears on the checklist for the polling place.
(A)(i) If the checklist indicates that the person is a first-time voter in the municipality who registered by mail and who has not provided required identification before the opening of the polls, require the person to present any one of the following: a valid photo identification; a copy of a current utility bill; a copy of a current bank statement; or a copy of a government check, paycheck, or any other government document that shows the current name and address of the voter.
(iii) The elections official shall note upon the checklist a first-time voter in the municipality who has registered by mail and who produces the required information, and place a mark next to the voter's name on the checklist and allow the voter to proceed to the voting booth for the purpose of voting.
(2) If the name does not appear, the person shall be afforded the opportunity to complete an application for addition to the checklist in accordance with section 2144 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 44; 2003, No. 59, § 32; 2015, No. 44, § 13, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.)
(a) Each organized political party, each candidate on the ballot not representing an organized political party, and each committee supporting or opposing any public question on the ballot shall have the right to have not more than two representatives outside the guardrail for the purpose of observing the voting process and challenging the right of any person to vote. In no event shall such representatives be permitted to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election, and the presiding officer shall have authority to impose reasonable rules for the preservation of order. However, in all cases the representatives shall have the right to hear or see the name of a person seeking to vote, and they shall have the right to make an immediate challenge to a person's right to vote. The grounds of challenge of a person whose name appears on the checklist shall be only:
(1) that he or she is not, in fact, the person whose name appears on the checklist, or
(2) that he or she has previously voted in the same election.
(b) If a challenge is issued, the members of the board of civil authority present in the polling place shall immediately convene, informally hear the facts, and decide whether the challenge should be sustained. If the board overrules the challenge, the person shall immediately be admitted within the guardrail and permitted to vote. If the board sustains the challenge, the person shall not be admitted unless, before the polls close, he or she shall obtain a court order directing that he or she be permitted to vote. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2565. Delivery of ballots
As each voter passes through the entrance of the guardrail, an election official or officials shall hand him or her one of each kind of ballot. The election officials shall also answer any questions a voter may ask concerning the process of voting. The presiding officer shall keep the election officials in charge of furnishing ballots to voters supplied with a sufficient number of blank ballots, keeping the remainder of the blank ballots safely secured until needed. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 76; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 71.)
§ 2566. Marking ballots
On receiving his or her ballots, the voter shall forthwith, and without leaving the polling place or going outside the guardrail, proceed to one of the booths not occupied by any other person and vote by filling in the appropriate square or oval opposite the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office, or by filling in the name of the candidate of his or her choice in the blank space provided and the square or oval to the right of that blank space. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2015, No. 30, § 15, eff. May 26, 2015.)
§ 2567. Voting systems for voters with disabilities
(b) All polling places shall possess at least one voting system approved by the Secretary of State equipped for individuals with disabilities, including accessibility for people who are blind and people who have a visual impairment, to vote independently and privately. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2003, No. 59, § 33, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 84; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 30.)
§ 2568. Spoiled and unused ballots
A person shall not take or remove a ballot from the polling place before the close of the polls. If a voter spoils a ballot, he or she may obtain others, one at a time, not exceeding three in all, upon each time returning the spoiled one. If a person fails to use a ballot, he or she shall deliver it to the presiding officer before going outside the guardrail. Spoiled and unused ballots shall be immediately canceled and, together with those originally delivered to the presiding officer which remain undistributed to the voters, shall be preserved and returned to the town clerks, in the same manner provided for in section 2590 of this title, and the clerk shall preserve them in such condition, unless called for by some authority entitled to demand and receive them. After 90 days from the date the election is held, they may be destroyed or distributed by the town clerk for educational purposes or for any other purpose the town clerk deems appropriate. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2569. Assistance to voter
(a) A voter who declares to the presiding officer that he or she needs assistance to mark the ballot shall be assisted in the marking or registering of the ballot by a person of the voter's choice or two election officials of different party affiliations.
(b) A person who gives assistance to a voter in the marking of his or her ballot shall not in any way divulge any information regarding the choice of the voter or the manner in which the voter's ballot was cast. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1989, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2003, No. 59, § 34; 2015, No. 30, § 16, eff. May 26, 2015.)
(a) In primary elections, the voter shall first hand any unvoted ballots to the appropriate election official, who shall deposit those ballots in a receptacle marked for unvoted ballots. The voter shall then deposit the voted ballot in the ballot box or vote tabulator, unless the voter requires assistance in depositing the ballot.
(c) Except as provided in section 2569 of this title, no election official or other person shall look at the contents of any ballot. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 77; 2015, No. 30, § 17, eff. May 26, 2015.)
§ 2571. Checking voter's name upon leaving
In towns that have exit checklists, before a voter's ballots are deposited, he or she shall again announce his or her name to the election officials attending the second certified copy of the checklist. A mark shall then be placed next to his or her name upon the checklist, ballots shall be deposited and he or she shall proceed immediately outside the guardrail by the exit and shall not again enter within the guardrail unless he or she is an election official. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 78; 2001, No. 5, § 8.)
§ 2572. Viewing of the checklist
(a) A representative of each political party, a candidate on the ballot not represented by a political party, and a representative of each committee supporting or opposing any public question on the ballot shall each have the right to view, no more than two times each, a copy of the checklist upon which the election officials are marking those persons who have voted.
(b) This viewing shall occur only at times during the election which are convenient for the election officials and is required to be permitted only in instances where the board of civil authority have received a request in writing from the representative or candidate at least 12 hours before the opening of the polls.
(c) This section shall only apply at polling places which have checklists of eligible voters numbering 500 or less. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2573. No counting before polls close
In towns that do not use vote tabulators, the ballot boxes shall not be opened nor the ballots counted before the closing of the polls. In towns using vote tabulators, the tabulator counts shall not be viewed or printed before the closing of the polls. (Added 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 79; amended 2003, No. 59, § 35; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 31.)
Subchapter 008: COUNT AND RETURN OF VOTES
§ 2581. Closing polls
When the hours set for voting, including extended hours of voting, have expired, the presiding officer at each polling place shall publicly announce that the polls are closed. He or she shall then insure that all persons who are not election officials are prevented from entering within the guardrail until all votes have been counted and ballots secured as provided in this subchapter. Persons who are not election officials may remain within the polling place but outside the guardrail, or within a designated area in any other room where ballots are being counted, provided that they are able to observe the counting process, but that they do not in any way interfere with the orderly count and return of votes. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 80.)
§ 2582. Presiding officer to direct count; transporting ballots or checklist
The presiding officer shall direct the manner in which the votes are counted, subject to the provisions of this title and as provided for in the rules for counting ballots adopted by the secretary of state. Ballots shall be counted at the polling places where they are cast, except where the secretary of state, upon request of the presiding officer, has issued a determination that the ballots should be counted elsewhere, or the checklist should be moved by two elections officials of different parties for the purpose of making a photocopy. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 81; 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 30; 2003, No. 59, § 36.)
§ 2583. Official checklist to be tallied; storage of checklist
(a)(1) The presiding officer, as soon after the closing of the polls as possible, shall cause both certified checklists to be examined and the number of voters checked as having voted to be tallied. Both tallies shall be recorded by the presiding officer. The presiding officer shall prepare a statement listing any discrepancies between the checklists, including the names involved and other details relating to the discrepancies.
(2) Unless the board of civil authority votes not to use an exit checklist under section 2507 of this chapter, each checklist shall be identified as either the "entrance" or "exit" checklist, and the exit checklist, together with a statement of discrepancies, shall be sealed and stored with the ballots and tally sheets as provided in section 2590 of this chapter. The entrance checklist shall be safely stored so that the public cannot have access to it for a period of 90 days except under the direct supervision of the town clerk.
(b) [Repealed.] (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 82; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2003, No. 59, § 37; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 32.)
§ 2584. Opening of ballot boxes; distribution of ballots
After the closing of the polls, the presiding officer shall open the ballot boxes and distribute the ballots among the election officials in approximately equal numbers. As nearly as may be, election officials shall work in pairs while counting ballots, each pair consisting of members of different parties. Once ballots are distributed to a pair of election officials, that pair shall retain the same ballots throughout the counting process. If more than one kind of ballot has been used in the election, only one kind at a time shall be distributed. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2585. Ballots not to be written upon
No person shall in any manner, nor for any reason, make any mark upon either the face or reverse side of any ballots, during the counting process. All notations, arithmetic, or other marking shall be done upon separate pieces of scratch paper. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2586. Secretary of state to prepare forms
The secretary of state shall design, prepare, and distribute a sufficient supply of the following forms, which shall be used in each polling place during the counting process:
(1) Tally sheets. These sheets shall provide a place to identify the office or question for which the ballots are being counted, the name of each candidate for that office, and the signature of the pair of election officials actually counting the ballots. Votes for each candidate or question shall be recorded on the tally sheets by means of "tick" marks or some other convenient system, and the total shall then be written on the tally sheet. Blank and spoiled ballots shall be indicated. All ballots must be accounted for on the tally sheets.
(3) Return. The return shall be prepared in duplicate and used to make the official report from each polling place of the grand totals of all votes cast in the polling place. It shall identify the polling place, and each candidate or question receiving votes, and shall be signed by the presiding officer and at least one other election official. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
(a) In counting ballots, election officials shall attempt to ascertain the intent of the voter, as expressed by markings on the ballot which is consistent with guidance adopted by the Secretary of State. The Secretary shall adopt, by rule, guidance on determining whether a ballot is spoiled. If it is impossible to determine the intent of the voter for any office or public question, the ballot shall be counted as blank or spoiled, as the case may be, for that office or question; but that determination shall not control any other office or question on the ballot for which the voter's intent can be determined. If they have any doubt about the intent of the voter or any other question about a ballot, the election officials counting the ballot shall bring it to the presiding officer, who shall present the question of how to treat the ballot to the assembled election officials. The decision of how to treat the ballot shall be made by majority vote of the election officials who are present.
(b) If the voter marks more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or marks contradictory sides on any public question, his or her ballot shall not be counted for that office or public question.
(c) A person who receives more than one vote for the same office on any ballot shall be entitled to one vote, and one vote only.
(d) If the board of civil authority decides by majority vote of those present that any markings on a ballot were made for the purpose of enabling it to be identified and the vote traced, so as to defeat the secrecy of the ballot, that ballot shall be rejected. The board shall make a record of the rejection and the reason for it, and shall preserve the record with the ballot in question.
(B) Names of fictitious persons shall not be listed.
(f) When the same number of persons are nominated for the position of justice of the peace as there are positions to be filled, the presiding officer may declare the whole slate of candidates elected without making individual tallies, providing each person on the slate has more votes than the largest number of write-in votes for any one candidate. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 83-85; 2003, No. 59, § 38; 2015, No. 30, § 17a, eff. May 26, 2015.)
(a) In towns that count all ballots by hand, as the count of votes for each office or public question is completed, the presiding officer and at least one other election official shall collect the tally sheets, enter the totals shown on the tally sheets upon the summary sheets, add and enter the sum of the figures, and sign the summary sheets. As each summary sheet is completed, the presiding officer shall publicly announce the results.
(b) In towns that use vote tabulators, after the close of the polls and after all remaining absentee or transfer ballots have been fed into the vote tabulator, the presiding officer shall insert the ender card and the tabulator will print a tape of unofficial results. The presiding officer shall print at least two additional copies of the tabulator tape. The unofficial results from the tape may be publicly announced, and one copy of the printed tape may be posted in the polling place upon a placard that clearly states: "Unofficial incomplete results."
(c) For any primary or general election:
(1) The town clerk shall report as soon as practicable on the day of the election the unofficial vote counts of all candidates whose names appeared on the ballot to the Secretary of State. The report shall be made by electronically submitting the vote counts on the Secretary's online elections reporting system or, if unable to submit electronically, by submitting those vote counts to the Secretary of State by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail.
(2) The Secretary shall ensure that any vote counts submitted by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail are entered into his or her online elections reporting system as soon as practicable after he or she receives them.
(3) The Secretary's online elections reporting system shall cause the unofficial vote counts to be posted immediately on the Secretary's official website as soon as those vote counts are submitted.
(d) The presiding officer and one other election official then shall proceed either to complete the return at once, or to store the summary sheets in a safe and secure place until their retrieval for completion of the return. In any event, no later than 24 hours after the polls close, the presiding officer and at least one other election official shall transfer the totals from the summary sheets to the proper spaces on the return, and both shall sign the return. The town clerk shall store the summary sheets safely so that the public cannot reasonably have access to them for a period of 90 days without the town clerk's consent. The original of the return shall be delivered to the town clerk. In a manner prescribed by the Secretary of State and within 48 hours of the close of the polls, the town clerk shall deliver to the Secretary of State, the senatorial district clerk, the county clerk, and the representative district clerk one certified copy each of the return. The town clerk shall also make a copy available to the public upon request. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 86; 2003, No. 59, § 39; 2009, No. 40, § 2; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 40; 2015, No. 30, § 18, eff. May 26, 2015.)
§ 2589. Identifying ballots
When each kind of ballot has been completely counted, each pair of election officials shall securely bind the ballots they have counted and one copy of each tally sheet they have prepared with string or rubber bands and shall, on a separate piece of paper, indicate the number of ballots in the package and the identity of the election officials who counted them, as: "100 ballots counted by John Doe and Mary Smith." (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2590. Securing and storing ballots, tally sheets, and checklists
(a) The packages of ballots, tally sheets, and other election material shall be collected by the presiding officer and delivered to the town clerk, securely sealed in the containers provided for in subsection (b) of this section. If the material collected from one polling place is sealed in more than one container, the presiding officer shall ensure that there shall be attached to the container in which the checklist or checklists are located a tag stating that the checklist or checklists are in that container. The form of the seal shall be designated and furnished by the secretary of state in sufficient quantities to each town clerk. The secretary of state shall require that all seals be safely kept and fully accounted for. The entrance checklist shall also be forwarded to the town clerk.
(b) The secretary of state shall furnish to all town clerks sufficient quantities of uniform-style containers. The secretary of state shall establish a method by which the outside of each container shall indicate the contents of the container, the town to which it belongs, and such other pertinent information as may be required.
(c) The presiding officer shall return all sealed containers to the town clerk, who shall safely store them and shall not permit them to be removed from his or her custody or tampered with in any way. In the event that a ballot bag or container breaks, splits, or opens through handling, or in the event the entrance checklist was inadvertently sealed in a ballot bag or container, the town clerk shall notify the secretary of state in writing, and the secretary of state shall order the town clerk in the presence of two town election officials who are not members of the same political party to open the bag to remove the entrance checklist or to move the entire contents to new bags or containers, affix new seals, and transmit the new seal numbers. Ballot bags or containers shall not be removed or tampered with in any other way, except under court order, or by order of any authorized committee of the general assembly. If necessary for safe storage of the containers, the town clerk may store them in a bank vault or other secure place, within or without the town, provided that access to them cannot reasonably be had without the town clerk's consent.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by federal law, all ballots and tally sheets shall be retained for a period of 90 days from the date of the election, after which time they may be destroyed; provided, however, that if a court order is entered prior to the expiration of the 90-day period, ordering some different disposition of the ballots, the town clerk shall abide by such order.
(e) After the sealed containers are opened as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the town clerk shall file a copy of the entrance or exit checklist and preserve it, together with a statement of discrepancies, as a public record. The checklist shall be retained for a period of at least five years from the date of the election and shall be made available at cost to the public upon request. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 87; 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1995, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(a); 2007, No. 54, § 10.)
§ 2591. Return not received
If any canvassing committee does not receive in due time any return required to be forwarded to it, it shall notify the clerk of the town from which the return is lacking, who shall forthwith make another certified copy of the record in his or her office of the lacking return and transmit the same to the committee. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
(b) For all county offices (except justice of the peace) and countywide public questions, the county clerk and the chair of the county committee of each major political party (or designee) shall constitute a canvassing committee to receive and tally returns and issue certificates.
(e) In the case of the canvassing committees in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, if there is no party organization or party chair in the county, the state committee chairman may designate a person to serve on the appropriate canvassing committee.
(k) In the case of the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, secretary of state, attorney general, and auditor of accounts, the canvassing committee shall prepare a certificate of election but shall not sign it. The prepared certificate shall be presented to the official canvassing committee appointed by the general assembly, pursuant to Chapter II, § 47 of the Vermont constitution, for their use if they desire.
(l) In the case of a tie vote, the canvassing committee shall forthwith petition the appropriate superior court for a recount pursuant to section 2602 of this title.
(m) Each canvassing committee shall file a report of its findings with the secretary of state, who shall preserve the reports as permanent records. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 88; 2003, No. 59, § 40.)
§ 2593. Participation to be entered on statewide checklist by town clerk
Not later than 60 days after an annual town meeting, primary election, presidential primary, or general election, the town clerk shall indicate on the town checklist of the statewide checklist each voter's participation, participation method, and political party of ballot taken, if applicable, in that election by a method approved by the Secretary of State. (Added 2007, No. 54, § 11; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. July 1, 2015; 2015, No. 30, § 19.)
Subchapter 009: RECOUNTS AND CONTEST OF ELECTIONS
(a) In an election for 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 less than two percent 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 an election for all other offices, if the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate and the number of votes cast for a losing candidate is less than five percent 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. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 89; 2009, No. 98 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 10, 2010; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)
§ 2602b. Assignment of duties
(a)(1) The county clerk shall supervise the recount and may appoint a sufficient number of impartial assistants to perform appropriate tasks which have not been assigned to recount committee members. The county clerk shall recruit town clerks to serve as impartial assistants to the county clerk for operating the vote tabulators, and shall consult with the Secretary of State to identify any vote tabulators to be used.
(2) The county clerk shall store all ballots, still in their sealed containers, in his or her vault until the day of the recount.
(b) The county clerk shall assign committee members to teams of at least four persons, consisting of one caller and one observer, representing different candidates, and one tally person and one double-check person, representing different candidates. Any additional team members shall be additional observers and double-check persons, who shall be assigned to ensure that each candidate has one person assigned as either a caller or an observer and one person assigned as either a tally person or a double-check person. One team shall be designated as the clerk observer team, which shall perform only the functions established under this subchapter for that team.
(c) The recount committee shall use fresh seals, manila tags, tally sheets, double-check sheets, summary sheets for each polling place, master lists for the entire election to be recounted, and other appropriate material provided by the Secretary of State. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42; 2015, No. 30, § 20, eff. May 26, 2015.)
§ 2602d. Examination of checklists
(a) The checklist from the first bag shall be assigned to a team. The caller and observer, each acting independently, shall examine the checklist and determine how many voters voted at the polling place, repeating the process until they agree on a number or until they agree to disagree on a number.
(b) Then the checklist shall be examined by the tally person and the double-check person, repeating the process until they agree on a number or they agree to disagree on the number.
(c) The results obtained from the two subgroups will be compared and if they do not match, the process shall be repeated until there is agreement among all the members of the team or until team members agree to disagree.
(d) The number finally determined by a majority of team members shall be submitted to the county clerk in the presence of the clerk observer team, together with an indication of the nature and extent of the disagreement. If one or more team members do not agree with the number submitted, the county clerk shall note on the master list the fact that the number of people appearing as having voted on a specified checklist was subject to dispute. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)
§ 2602e. Repealed. 2015, No. 30, § 21, effective May 26, 2015.
§ 2602g. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 43.
(a) After the totals for a polling place have been listed, the county clerk shall add them up in the presence of the clerk observer team, and shall compare the number with the number of voters who voted at that polling place, according to the number obtained from the team that examined the certified checklist. If these numbers differ, the county clerk shall note the amount of the difference on the summary sheets for that polling place.
(b) The county clerk shall return all ballots to the container, seal it, record the seal number on the summary sheet, write "recounted" and specify the date of the recount on the tag, and move it to the other side of the room, making sure that there is never more than one bag open at any one time.
(c) This procedure shall be repeated for each container, until the results from a polling place have been recounted, and then it shall be repeated until the results from all polling places in a town have been recounted, and then until the results from all towns have been recounted.
(d) The county clerk shall add the totals on each summary sheet, affix the clerk's seal, and send the summary sheets for all polling places together with the master list and any questionable ballots to the court by certified mail, return receipt requested, or shall certify the results to the judge. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)
§ 2602i. Costs
Recount committee members and assistants designated by the county clerk shall be paid by the State at the same per diem and mileage rates and according to the same procedures by which jurors are paid. These and other necessary expenses, as approved by the court, shall be paid by the State through the Court Administrator's Office. The Secretary of State shall reimburse the Court Administrator's Office. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)
§ 2602j. Other rules for conducting the recount
(a) The county clerk shall preserve order. If a person, after notice, is persistently disorderly and refuses to withdraw from the premises, the county clerk may cause the person to be removed from the premises.
(b) The county clerk shall designate an area within which the recount shall take place. Persons who are not committee members shall be permitted to view a recount in progress, but persons not authorized by the county clerk shall not be permitted within the area designated by the county clerk.
(c) Candidates and their attorneys shall be given the opportunity to present evidence to the court relating to the conduct of the recount. If the court determines that any violations of recount procedures have occurred and that they may have affected the outcome of the recount, a new recount shall be ordered. After such hearings or arguments as may be indicated under the circumstances, the Superior Court, within five working days, shall issue a judgment, which shall supersede any certificate of election previously issued and shall return to the county clerk questionable ballots which had been forwarded to the court. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)
§ 2602k. After the recount
(a) If the recount results in a tie, the court shall order a recessed election to be held, within three weeks of the recount, on a date set by the court. The only candidates who shall appear on the ballot at the recessed election shall be those who tied in the previous election. The recessed election shall be considered a separate election for the purpose of voter registration under chapter 43 of this title. If the recount confirms a tie as to any public question, no recessed election shall be held, and the question shall be certified not to have passed. Warnings for a recessed 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 recessed election. The conduct of a recessed election shall be as provided in this chapter for general elections.
(b) After the recount, the county clerk shall seal the ballots and other materials back in the containers and store them in the county clerk's vault until returned to the towns. The county clerk shall return all ballots to the respective town clerks after issuance of the court's judgment, together with a copy of the judgment. The respective town clerks or their designees shall transport the ballots to the towns from which they came.
(c) The court shall send a certified copy of the judgment to the Secretary of State. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)
§ 2602l. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 43.
(a) The result of an election for any office, other than for the general assembly, or public question may be contested by any legal voter entitled to vote on the office or public question to be contested.
(c) The complaint shall be filed within 15 days after the election in question, or if there is a recount, within 10 days after the court issues its judgment on the recount. In the case of candidates for state or congressional office, for a presidential election, or for a statewide public question, the complaint shall be filed with the civil division of the superior court, Washington County. In the case of any other candidate or public question, the complaint shall be filed with the superior court in any county in which votes were cast for the office or question being challenged.
(e) After hearing, the court shall issue findings of fact and a judgment, which shall supersede any certificate of election previously issued. If the court finds just cause, the court shall grant appropriate relief, which may include, without limitation, ordering a recount, or ordering a new election. If during the hearing the court receives credible evidence of criminal conduct, the court shall order a transcript of all or part of the testimony to be forwarded to the proper state's attorney. If a new election is ordered, the court shall set a date for it, after consulting with the secretary of state; in ordering a new election, the court shall have authority to issue appropriate orders, either to provide for special cases not covered by law, or to supersede provisions of law which may conflict with the needs of the particular situation.
(f) The court shall send a certified copy of its findings of fact and judgment to the secretary of state. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 94, 95; 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 19; 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 141.)
§ 2604. Repealed. 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 7.
§ 2605. House of representatives
(a) A candidate for the office of representative to the general assembly in the general election, or any elected town officer in the representative district, or any 25 voters in the representative district may request the house of representatives to exercise its constitutional authority to judge of the elections and qualifications of its own members, by filing a written request with the secretary of state specifying the candidate or candidates whose election is being challenged. The request must be filed no later than the latest of the following:
(b) The secretary of state shall notify the attorney general, who shall investigate the facts, take such depositions as may be necessary, prepare an opinion on the law and facts, and send his or her report and opinion to the secretary of state at least 10 days before the general assembly convenes. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 96.)
§ 2606. Senate
(b) The secretary of state shall notify the attorney general, who shall investigate the facts, take such depositions as may be necessary, prepare an opinion on the law and facts, and send his or her report and opinion to the secretary of the senate at least 10 days before the general assembly convenes. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 97.)
§ 2607. Canvassing committee
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. (Added 1995, No. 38, § 1.)
Subchapter 010: JURISDICTION OF COURTS
§ 2616. Jurisdiction to prosecute criminal offenses
The state's attorney in any county in which all or a part of any violation of this title was committed shall have authority to prosecute such violations. The prosecution shall be conducted before the Vermont criminal division of the superior court. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238.)
§ 2617. Jurisdiction of superior courts
In all cases for which no other provision has been made, the superior court shall have general jurisdiction to hear and determine matters relating to elections and to fashion appropriate relief. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)