reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
17 V.S.A. § 2491
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2491. Political subdivision; 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 local, primary, or general elections, or any combination of those.(b) A town with 1,000 or more registered voters as of December 31 in an even-numbered year shall use vote tabulators for the registering and counting of votes in subsequent general 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.   (d)(1) Notwithstanding a town's use of vote tabulators under this section or any other provision of law, the Secretary of State may suspend the use of vote tabulators and require the hand count of votes in an election if the Secretary determines there are reasonable grounds to believe that the vote tabulators to be used in that election may have been rendered inoperable.  (2) Upon such a determination, the Secretary shall alert the clerks of the affected municipalities of his or her decision as soon as practicable. (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; 2017, No. 50, § 22; 2017, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 16, 2018.)
17 V.S.A. § 2494
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2494. Construction with other laws

§ 2494. Construction with other laws|(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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2499
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2499. Transfer of paper ballots from vote tabulators

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2504
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2504. Voting booths

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2505
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2505. Guardrail

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2506
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2506. Ballot boxes; signs for depositing ballots

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2507
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2507. Distribution of checklists

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2508
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2508. Campaigning during polling hours; voter access

§ 2508. Campaigning during polling hours; voter access|(a)(1) The presiding officer shall ensure during polling hours on the day of the election that:   (A) within the building containing a polling place, no campaign literature, stickers, buttons, name stamps, information on write-in candidates, or other political materials that display the name of a candidate on the ballot or an organized political party or that demonstrate support or opposition to a question on the ballot are displayed, placed, handed out, or allowed to remain; (B) within the building containing a polling place, no candidate, election official, or other person distributes election materials, solicits voters regarding an item or candidate on the ballot, or otherwise campaigns; and (C) on the walks and driveways leading to a building in which a polling place is located, no candidate or other person physically interferes with the progress of a voter to and from the polling place.  (2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to the town clerk's office during any period of early or absentee voting.   (b) During polling hours, the presiding officer shall control the placement of signs on the property of the polling place in a fair manner.(c) The provisions of this section shall be posted in the notice required by section 2521 of this chapter. (Amended 1989, No. 211 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2001, No. 5, § 14; 2017, No. 50, § 24; 2019, No. 67, § 13.)
17 V.S.A. § 2521
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2521. Warnings and notices

§ 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.  (1) 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. (2) 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 if an error is made; information about offenses relating to elections; instructions on 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. (3) 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. (4) 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 that 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; 2017, No. 50, § 25.)
17 V.S.A. § 2522
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2522. Sample ballots

§ 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.(c) [Repealed.](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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2523
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2523. Posting at polling place on election day

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2531
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2531. Application for early voter absentee ballot

§ 2531. Application for early voter absentee ballot|(a) Deadline to file.  (1)(A) A voter who expects to be an early or absentee voter, or an authorized person on behalf of such voter, may apply for an early voter absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. or the closing of the town clerk's office on the day preceding the election.  (B) If a town clerk does not have regular office hours on the day before the election and his or her office will not otherwise be open on that day, an application may be filed until the closing of the clerk's office on the last day that office has hours preceding the election.  (2)(A) In cases of emergency, including unanticipated illness or injury, at his or her discretion the town clerk may accept a request for an absentee ballot after the deadline set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection.  (B) In such cases of emergency, the ballot may be mailed, electronically delivered, or delivered by two justices of the peace as set forth in subsection 2539(b) of this subchapter.    (b) Place of filing.  (1) All applications shall be filed with the town clerk of the town in which the early or absentee voter is registered to vote. (2) The town clerk shall file written applications and memoranda of verbal applications in his or her office, and shall retain the applications and memoranda for 90 days following the election, at which time they may be destroyed.   (c) Australian ballot. Voting by early voter absentee ballot shall be allowed only in elections using the Australian ballot system. (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; 2017, No. 50, § 26; 2019, No. 67, § 14.)
17 V.S.A. § 2532a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2532a. Mobile polling stations

§ 2532a. Mobile polling stations|Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Secretary of State may authorize a town clerk to establish a mobile polling station at which two or more election officials who are not all members of the same political party shall make absentee ballots available. The town clerk shall notify the public of the mobile polling station three days prior to operation by posting at the town clerk's office and at the mobile polling station site the date and hours that the mobile polling station will operate. The Secretary of State shall establish procedures that ensure that:  (1) prior to distributing a ballot, the election officials shall verify that the voter's name is on the town checklist or will register the individual to vote if he or she is not registered and is qualified to vote in the town. The election officials shall make a list of the names of each voter who has voted at the mobile polling site; (2) each voter shall place his or her ballot in an early absentee ballot envelope, seal and sign the certificate, and return the ballot envelope to the election officials; (3) upon the closure of the mobile polling place, the election officials shall immediately return the ballot envelopes, list of names, and any unvoted ballots to the town clerk who shall add each voter's name to the list of early or absentee voters and commingle the envelopes with other returned early absentee ballot envelopes in the vault. Ballots that are returned along with a new voter registration form shall be kept in a secure place in the vault until the registration process has been completed and then processed as in this subdivision. (Added 2007, No. 111 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2007, No. 111 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2009.)
17 V.S.A. § 2533
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2533. Notification of invalid application

§ 2533. Notification of invalid application|If the town clerk finds an application for an early or absentee voter ballot that 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2534
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2534. List of early or absentee voters

§ 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2535
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2535. Form of early voter absentee ballots and envelopes; federal or military requirements

§ 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 that 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.)
17 V.S.A. § 2536
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2536. Furnishing early voter absentee ballot envelopes

§ 2536. Furnishing early voter absentee ballot envelopes|Upon request, for any statewide primary, presidential primary, or general election, 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. The cost of absentee ballot envelopes for local elections shall be borne by the municipality. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 66; 2001, No. 6, § 6, eff. April 10, 2001; 2021, No. 60, § 5, eff. June 7, 2021.)
17 V.S.A. § 2537
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2537. Early or absentee voting in the town clerk's office

§ 2537. Early or absentee voting in the town clerk's office|(a)(1) A voter may, if he or she chooses, apply in person to the town clerk for the early voter absentee ballots and envelopes.  (2) In this case, the clerk shall furnish the early voter absentee ballots and envelopes when a valid application has been made or at such time as the clerk receives the ballots, whichever comes first. (3) The voter may:  (A) mark his or her ballots, place them in the envelope, sign the certificate, and return the ballots in the envelope containing the certificate to the town clerk or an assistant town clerk without leaving the office of the town clerk; (B) take the ballots and return them to the town clerk in the same manner as if the ballots had been received by mail; or (C) if the board of civil authority has voted to allow it pursuant to section 2546b of this subchapter, mark the ballots and deposit them directly into the vote tabulator or ballot box in accordance with section 2546b of this subchapter.    (b) Except for justices of the peace as provided in section 2538 of this subchapter, a person shall not 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; 2017, No. 50, § 28; 2019, No. 67, § 14; 2021, No. 60, § 6, eff. June 7, 2021.)
17 V.S.A. § 2537a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2537a. Mailing of general election ballots

§ 2537a. Mailing of general election ballots|(a) For every general election, the Secretary of State's office shall mail a general election ballot to all active voters on the statewide voter checklist described in section 2154 of this title.  (1) The mailing of the ballots shall commence not later than 43 days before the election and shall be completed not later than October 1. (2) A postage-paid return envelope, pre-addressed to the town or city clerk of the town or city where the voter is registered to vote, shall be included with the ballot sent to every voter in which the ballot may be mailed back to the clerk. All postage cost shall be paid by the Secretary of State's office. (3) The address file to be used for the mailing shall be generated from the statewide voter checklist as close as practicable to the date of the mailing and in no case earlier than September 1. (4) The Secretary of State's office shall include in the mailing to each voter instructions for return of the voted ballot.   (b) General election ballots mailed by the Secretary of State's office under this section shall be returned by the voter to the town or city clerk in the town or city where that voter is registered in accordance with the procedures for return of ballots described in this subchapter. (Added 2021, No. 60, § 7, eff. June 7, 2021.)
17 V.S.A. § 2540
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2540. Instructions to be sent with ballots

§ 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 a form prescribed by the Secretary of State's office.(b) [Repealed.] (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; 2017, No. 50, § 29; 2019, No. 67, § 14; 2021, No. 60, § 9, eff. June 7, 2021.)
17 V.S.A. § 2541
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections|§ 2541. Marking of ballots

§ 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) 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 makes an error in marking a ballot, the voter may return that ballot by mail or in person to the town clerk and receive another ballot, consistent with the provisions of section 2568 of this chapter. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 71; 2001, No. 6, § 9, eff. April 10, 2001; 2017, No. 50, § 30; 2019, No. 67, § 14.)