reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2455. Election officials; duties; political party representation

§ 2455. Election officials; duties; political party representation
(a) The assistant election officers, together with the presiding officer and the board of civil authority, shall constitute the election officials.
(b) 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 of the duties assigned to each election official.
(c) When the provisions of this title require two or more election officials of different political parties to perform an act, that political party representation requirement shall not be required if attempts to conform to it were not successful. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2017, No. 50, § 20.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2456. Disqualifications

§ 2456. Disqualifications
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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2457. Workshops and information for election officials

§ 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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2458. Complaint procedure

§ 2458. Complaint procedure
(a) 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 52 U.S.C. chapter 209, subchapter III (Uniform and Nondiscriminatory Election Technology and Administration Requirements) has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur in the course of any election in which a candidate for federal office appears on the ballot.
(b) As used in this section, “complaint” means a statement in writing made by a voter stating, with particularity, the violation, notarized, and sworn or affirmed under penalty of perjury.
(c) 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.
(d) Any decision of the Secretary may be appealed to the Superior Court in the county where the individual resides. (Added 2003, No. 59, § 18; amended 2019, No. 67, § 11.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2471. General election ballot

§ 2471. General election ballot
(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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2472. Contents

§ 2472. Contents
(a) The ballot shall be titled “OFFICIAL VERMONT GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT,” followed by the date of the election. Immediately below, the following instructions shall be printed: “Instruction to Voters: To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot, fill in the oval at the right of that person’s name and party designation. To vote for a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot, write the person’s name on the blank line in the appropriate block and fill in the oval to the right of that blank line. When there are two or more candidates to be elected to one office, you may vote for any number of candidates up to and including the maximum number.” The name of the town or towns and legislative district in which the ballot is to be used shall be listed in the upper left hand corner.
(b)(1) Each office to be voted upon shall be separately indicated and preceded by the word “For,” as: “For United States Senator.” Beneath the office to be voted upon shall appear the instructions: “Vote for not more than (the number of candidates to be elected).”
(2) The names of the candidates for each office shall be listed in alphabetical order by surname, followed by the candidate’s town of residence, and the party or parties by which the candidate has been nominated, or in the case of independent candidates who have not chosen some other name or identification, by the word “Independent.” The word “party” shall not be printed on the ballot following a candidate’s party name.
(3) To the right of the party designation shall be an oval in which the voter may indicate his or her choice by filling in the oval.
(4) A candidate’s name shall not appear on the ballot more than once for any one office.
(c) Following the names of candidates for each office, there shall be as many blank write-in lines as there are persons to be elected to that office. To the right of each such line shall be the words “Write-In” and an oval identical to the ovals that follow the candidates’ names. Lines provided for writing in names for President and Vice President shall be separately designated by the words “President” and “Vice President.”
(d) [Repealed.]
(e) When an article is to be voted on and the legislative body determines that the article is too long or unwieldy to show in full on the ballot, it shall be sufficient for the ballot to show the article by the number and title for that article as they were listed in the warning for the election. However, the complete article shall be posted in a conspicuous place within each voting booth. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.),§§ 43-45; 2007, No. 54, § 5; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2015, No. 30, § 9, eff. May 26, 2015; 2017, No. 50, § 21; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 121.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2473. Provisions relative to presidential election

§ 2473. Provisions relative to presidential election
(a) When the President and Vice President are to be elected, the ballot shall contain the names of all candidates for these offices, arranged in alphabetical order according to the surname of the presidential candidate of each party. The names of the electors shall not be printed on the ballot. A vote for the presidential and vice presidential nominees of a party shall constitute a vote for the electors nominated by that party.
(b) The name and state of residence of the presidential and vice presidential candidate of each party shall be listed on separate lines joined together by a bracket, followed by the party designations and a single square for that pair of candidates. In lieu of the instructions: “Vote for not more than (the number of candidates to be elected),” the following instructions shall appear: “Mark ONE oval only.”
(c)(1) If a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot receives the greatest number of votes for President, the Secretary of State shall notify him or her of that fact, and within two weeks thereafter, the candidate shall file with the Secretary of State a list of voters equal to the number of electors that the State is entitled to elect. The list shall be signed by the candidate personally.
(2) The persons so named shall be electors, having the duties prescribed in this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2007, No. 54, § 6; 2019, No. 67, § 12.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2474. Choice of party

§ 2474. Choice of party
(a)(1) A person nominated by any means for the same office by more than one political party may elect, not later than 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day following the primary election, the party or parties in which the nominee will be a candidate. The nominee shall notify in writing the Secretary of State or town clerk, as the case may be, of such choice by that deadline, and only the party or parties that the nominee so elects shall be printed next to the nominee’s name on the ballot.
(2) If the nominee does not notify the Secretary of State or the town clerk of his or her choice of party, the Secretary of State shall print on the ballot those parties next to the nominee’s name by listing in this order:
(A) the major political party for which the nominee had his or her name printed on the ballot in the primary;
(B) any major political parties that nominated the nominee by the party committee, in the order in which the nominations were submitted to the Secretary of State;
(C) any major political parties for which the nominee received write-in votes, in an order from highest to lowest vote counts; and
(D) any minor political parties that nominated the nominee by party committee, in the order in which the nominations were submitted to the Secretary of State.
(b)(1) A candidate for State office who is the nominee of two or more political parties shall file with the Secretary of State, not later than 5:00 p.m. the tenth day following the primary election, a statement designating for which party the votes cast for him or her shall be counted for the purposes of determining whether his or her designated party shall be a major political party. The party so designated shall be the first party to be printed immediately after the candidate’s name on the ballot.
(2) If a candidate does not file the statement by that deadline, the Secretary of State shall designate the party for which the votes cast shall be counted as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1989, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2003, No. 59, § 19; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 24; 2015, No. 30, § 10, eff. May 26, 2015.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2475. Death or withdrawal of candidate

§ 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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2478. Number of paper ballots to be printed and furnished

§ 2478. Number of paper ballots to be printed and furnished
(a) For primary elections, the Secretary of State shall furnish each town with a sufficient number of printed ballots based on the history of voter turnout in the town and in consultation with the town clerk.
(b) For general elections, the Secretary of State shall furnish each town with a number of printed ballots approximately equal to 100 percent of the number of voters on the checklist for the primary election.
(c) If necessary due to unusual growth of the checklist, a town clerk may request additional ballots from the Secretary of State at least 40 days before the election.
(d) For local ballots, the town clerk shall cause such number of ballots to be printed and furnished as the board of civil authority shall designate.
(e) [Repealed.] (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 48; 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 1985, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.); 1991, No. 127 (Adj. Sess.); 2003, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 25.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2479. Manner of distribution

§ 2479. Manner of distribution
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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2480. Substitute ballots

§ 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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2481. Printed ballots required

§ 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 that does not use printed ballots. (Added 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 26.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2542. Signing certificate

§ 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:
(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.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2543a. Provision of secure ballot drop boxes

§ 2543a. Provision of secure ballot drop boxes
(a) A board of civil authority may vote to install one or more secure outdoor ballot drop boxes (drop boxes) for the return of voted ballots.
(b) Drop boxes shall be located on municipal property. If a town has only one drop box, it shall be located on the property of the municipal clerk’s office.
(c) Drop boxes shall allow for the return of ballots by voters at any time of day and must be available for the return of ballots not later than 43 days before the election.
(d) Drop boxes shall be installed and maintained in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary of State’s office. At a minimum, drop boxes shall:
(1) be affixed to a foundation or other immovable object such that they cannot be removed without being tampered with;
(2) be under 24-hour video surveillance or in the alternative be within sight of the municipal building;
(3) be constructed in such a manner that it is impossible to remove the ballots without the ballot box being tampered with; and
(4) be able to be closed such that ballots may not be deposited once the deadline for deposit has passed.
(e)(1) Ballots may be deposited in the drop boxes until the close of business on the day before the election. At the close of business, the drop box shall be closed and instructions affixed to the drop box instructing the voter to return the voter’s voted ballot to the polling place on the day of the election.
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, a board of civil authority may vote to allow ballots to be deposited in the drop boxes until not later than the closing of the polls on election day.
(f) The Secretary of State’s office shall provide drop boxes to a town or city upon request following a vote of the board of civil authority. The maximum number of drop boxes that the Secretary of State’s office shall provide in any town or city shall be as follows:
(1) up to 5,000 registered voters, one;
(2) between 5,000 and 10,000 registered voters, two;
(3) between 10,000 and 15,000 registered voters, three;
(4) between 15,000 and 20,000 registered voters, four; and
(5) over 20,000 registered voters, five.
(6) A town or city may have a number of secure drop boxes equal to the number of representative districts in that town or city, with one drop box located in each district, if that number is greater than the number allowed based on that town or city’s number of registered voters in subdivisions (1)-(5) of this subsection. If there is not suitable municipal property for the location of a secure drop box in the area covered by a certain district in the town or city, an alternative location may be used with the approval of the Secretary of State’s office. (Added 2021, No. 60, § 11, eff. June 7, 2021.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 51 - Conduct of Elections › § 2546a. Deposit of early voter absentee ballots in vote tabulator

§ 2546a. Deposit of early voter absentee ballots in vote tabulator
(a) Generally. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the board of civil authority may vote to permit elections officials to deposit early voter absentee ballots that have been processed in accordance with subsection 2546(a) of this subchapter and have not been deemed defective into the vote tabulator or ballot box in accordance with the provisions of this section and any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Any such depositing of ballots shall take place at the town clerk’s office during the 30 days preceding the election.
(b) Notice. If a board of civil authority votes to deposit ballots as described in subsection (a) of this section, the process shall be conducted during normal business hours if practicable or, if conducting the process at a time other than normal business hours, notice of the date(s), time(s), and location of the processing shall be posted at the clerk’s office and two other public places at least three days in advance.
(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) Processing. The Secretary of State’s office shall issue detailed procedures for conducting the processing of early ballots into the vote tabulator or ballot box pursuant to this section. A town or city shall follow the procedures issued by the Secretary of State’s office for this purpose.
(e) 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; amended 2017, No. 50, § 33; 2021, No. 60, § 14, eff. June 7, 2021.)