reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2662. Validation of municipal meetings

§ 2662. Validation of municipal meetings
When any of the requirements as to notice or warning of an annual or special municipal meeting have been omitted or not complied with, the omission or noncompliance, if the meeting and the business transacted at it is otherwise legal and within the scope of the municipal powers, may be corrected and legalized by vote at a regular meeting or special meeting of the municipality called and duly warned for that purpose. The question to be voted upon shall substantially be, “Shall the action taken at the meeting of this town (or city, village or district) held on (state date) in spite of the fact that (state the error or omission), and any act or action of the municipal officers or agents pursuant thereto be readopted, ratified, and confirmed.” Errors or omissions in the conduct of an original meeting that are not the result of an unlawful notice or warning or noncompliance within the scope of the warning may be cured by a resolution of the legislative body of the municipality by a vote of two-thirds of all its members at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose, stating that the defect was the result of oversight, inadvertence, or mistake. When an error or omission of this nature has been thus corrected by resolution, all business within the terms of the action of the qualified voters shall be as valid as if the requirements had been initially complied with, condition, however, that the original action thereby corrected by the legislative body was in compliance with the legal exercise of its corporate powers. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2663. Certificate of vote

§ 2663. Certificate of vote
Whenever an act of the General Assembly by its provisions takes effect only when accepted by vote of a municipality, the clerk of the municipality shall certify within 10 days to the Secretary of State the result of such vote. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2664. Budget

§ 2664. Budget
At its annual meeting, a town shall vote such sums of money as it deems necessary for the interest of its inhabitants and for the prosecution and defense of the common rights. It shall express in its vote the specific amounts, or the rate on a dollar of the grand list, to be appropriated for laying out and repairing highways and for other necessary town expenses. If a town votes specific amounts in lieu of a rate on a dollar of the grand list, the selectboard shall, after the grand list book has been computed and lodged in the office of the town clerk, set the tax rate necessary to raise the specific amounts voted. The selectboard may apply for grants and may accept and expend grants or gifts above those that are approved in the town budget. The selectboard shall include, in its annual report, a description of all grants or gifts accepted during the year and associated expenditures. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2007, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 12; 2015, No. 30, § 25, eff. May 26, 2015.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2665. Notification to Secretary of State

§ 2665. Notification to Secretary of State
The town clerk shall file with the Secretary of State a list of the names and addresses of the selectboard members elected and shall notify the Secretary of State of any changes in the list as filed. (Added 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 106.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2666. Improper influence

§ 2666. Improper influence
Neither the warning, the notice, the official voter information cards, nor the ballot itself shall include any opinion or comment by any town body or officer or other person on any matter to be voted on. (Added 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 107.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2667. Access to annual meeting

§ 2667. Access to annual meeting
The legislative body of the municipality shall take reasonable measures to ensure that voters who are elders or have a disability may conveniently attend annual or special meetings; provided, however, that such measures need not be taken if doing so would impose undue hardship on the town. Measures may include location of meetings on the ground floor of buildings or providing ramps or other devices for access to meetings. In municipal elections using the Australian ballot system of voting, subsection 2502(b) of this title shall apply. For the purposes of this section, the legislative body shall have full jurisdiction on the day of the municipal meeting over the premises at which the town meeting is to be held. (Added 1983, No. 90, § 2, eff. April 29, 1983; amended 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 85.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2681a. Local election ballots

§ 2681a. Local election ballots
(a) Ballots for local officers and local public questions shall be prepared at town expense, under the direction of the town clerk, not later than 20 days before the local election. These ballots may be any color and the printing shall be black; in other respects, they shall conform as nearly as may be practicable to the form of the consolidated ballot in chapter 51, subchapter 2 of this title, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(b)(1) On the local election ballot, the candidate’s name shall appear as provided in his or her consent form.
(2) The board of civil authority may vote to list a street address for each candidate, or the town of residence of each candidate, or no residence at all for each candidate.
(c) No political party or other designation shall be listed unless the municipal charter provides for such listing, the town has voted at an earlier election to provide such a listing or, in the absence of previous consideration of the question by the town, the legislative body decides to permit listing. If political party or other designations are permitted, no candidate shall use the name of a political party whose certificate of organization has been filed properly with the Secretary of State unless the candidate has been endorsed by a legally called town caucus of that political party for the office in question. In any event, the candidate must still file the petition and consent form required by section 2681 of this title.
(d) The names of candidates for the same office, but for different terms of service, shall be arranged in groups according to the length of their respective terms.
(e) Public questions shall be written in the form of a question, with boxes indicating a choice of “yes” and “no” directly under or to the right side of the public question. No public question shall pass unless a majority of the votes, excluding blank and overvotes, is cast in favor of the proposition. (Added 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 110; amended 1989, No. 211 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2007, No. 54, § 12; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 52; 2017, No. 50, § 56.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2682. Process of voting; appointments

§ 2682. Process of voting; appointments
(a) Election expenses shall be assumed by the municipality.
(b) Returns shall be filed with the town clerk.
(c) In a municipal election controlled by this subchapter, the person receiving the greatest number of votes for an office shall be declared elected to that office and a certificate of election need not be issued.
(d) In the event no person files a petition for an office that is to be filled at the annual or special meeting of a municipality, and if no person is otherwise elected to fill the office, a majority of the legislative body of the municipality may appoint a voter of the municipality to fill the office until the next annual meeting.
(e) [Repealed.]
(f) When the same number of persons are nominated for any town office as there are positions to be filled, the presiding officer may declare the whole slate of candidates elected without making individual tallies, provided each person on the slate has more votes than the largest number of write-in votes for any one write-in candidate. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 111; 2007, No. 54, § 14; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 53.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2682a. Write-in candidates

§ 2682a. Write-in candidates
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2682 of this subchapter, in order to be elected, a write-in candidate shall receive at least 30 votes or the votes of one percent of the registered voters in the municipality, whichever is less. (Added 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 54.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2682b. Tie votes for local office

§ 2682b. Tie votes for local office
If there is a tie vote for any office, the legislative body or, in its stead, the municipal clerk shall within seven days warn a runoff election to be held not less than 15 days nor more than 22 days after the warning. The only candidates in the runoff election shall be those who were tied in the original election. However, if one of the candidates that are tied withdraws his or her candidacy within five days after the election, the town clerk shall certify the other tied candidate as the winner, and there shall be no runoff election. (Added 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 55.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2683. Request for a recount; candidates

§ 2683. Request for a recount; candidates
(a) A candidate for local office may request a recount by filing a request in writing with the municipal clerk within 10 days after the election.
(b) If the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate and the number of votes cast for a losing candidate is five percent or less of the total votes cast for all the candidates for an office, divided by the number of persons to be elected, that losing candidate shall have the right to have the votes for that office recounted. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 112; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 56; 2017, No. 50, § 57.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2684. Time and place of recount; notice

§ 2684. Time and place of recount; notice
The clerk shall fix the time and place for a recount for not less than two nor more than five days from the time the petition is received, and shall promptly notify the opposing candidates and the board of civil authority. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 113.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2685. Conduct of recount

§ 2685. Conduct of recount
(a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, at the time and place specified by the clerk, the board of civil authority shall break the seal, open the ballot container, and recount the votes pursuant to the procedure set forth in section 2685a of this subchapter and otherwise in the same manner as the votes were counted on the day of the election.
(2) When the ballot for the office is printed on index stock and configured to be readable by vote tabulator, the town clerk and board of civil authority shall conduct the recount by vote tabulator, pursuant to the procedure set forth in chapter 51, subchapter 9 of this title to the greatest extent practicable, if:
(A) the candidate who petitions for a recount requests that it be conducted by vote tabulator;
(B) the board of civil authority, at a meeting held not less than 60 days prior to a local election and warned pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 801, has voted to require the municipality for which it is elected to use vote tabulators in subsequent recounts; or
(C) the municipality has voted to use vote tabulators in subsequent recounts pursuant to a meeting warned for the purpose.
(b) The petitioner, the opposing candidates, and their designated representatives may inspect the ballots and observe the recount under the guidance of the board.
(c) The board shall certify the result to the town clerk, who shall declare the result.
(d) After the recount, the board shall seal the ballots and other materials back in the containers and the town clerk shall safely store them as provided in section 2590 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 114; 2009, No. 40, § 4a; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 57; 2015, No. 30, § 28, eff. May 26, 2015; 2017, No. 50, § 58.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2685a. Procedure for recount

§ 2685a. Procedure for recount
(a) Storage of ballots; assignment of duties.
(1) The town clerk shall store all ballots, still in their sealed containers, in his or her vault until the day of the recount.
(2)(A) The town clerk shall supervise the recount.
(B) If the town clerk is unavailable or is a candidate for the office subject to the recount, the board of civil authority shall appoint a voter of the municipality to perform the duties of the town clerk under this section.
(3)(A) The board of civil authority shall appoint a sufficient number of impartial assistant election officers to perform appropriate tasks to conduct the recount.
(B) Each assistant election officer shall be appointed and sworn as set forth in section 2454 of this title.
(4), (5) [Repealed.]
(b) Preparation for recount.
(1) Before the recount begins, the town clerk shall explain the recount procedures that are to be followed and shall answer questions relating to such procedures.
(2) The election officials shall recount the contents of one container before another container is opened and shall recount the contents of all the containers relating to one polling place before moving to those of another polling place.
(c), (d) [Repealed.]
(e) Ballot review.
(1) If the election officials examining a particular ballot do not agree on how the vote on that ballot should be counted, all of the board of civil authority members present shall review the vote, and the vote shall be counted as agreed upon by a majority of those board of civil authority members.
(2) A write-in vote for a preprinted candidate shall be counted as a vote for that candidate.
(f), (g) [Repealed.]
(h) Other rules for conducting the recount.
(1) The town clerk shall preserve order. If a person, after notice, is persistently disorderly and refuses to withdraw from the premises, the town clerk may cause the person to be removed from the premises.
(2) The town clerk shall designate an area within which the recount shall take place. Persons who are not board of civil authority members or appointed impartial election officers shall be permitted to view a recount in progress, but persons not authorized by the town clerk shall not be permitted within the area designated by the town clerk.
(i) After the recount.
(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B) of this subdivision (1), if the recount results in a tie, a runoff election shall be conducted in accordance with section 2682b of this chapter.
(B) If the recount confirms a tie as to any public question, a new election shall not be held, and the question shall be certified not to have passed.
(2) [Repealed.] (Added 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 58; amended 2017, No. 50, § 59.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2686. Declaration of result

§ 2686. Declaration of result
If the recount shows that a person other than the one declared elected upon the original canvass of votes has the number of votes required by law for election to office, that person shall be declared elected and shall be entitled to the office. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2687. Appeal to Superior Court

§ 2687. Appeal to Superior Court
Within five days after the declaration of the clerk, an aggrieved candidate may appeal to the Superior Court by giving a written notice to that effect to the other candidates who appeared before the board of civil authority. The original of the notice shall be filed with the county clerk. No entry fee shall be charged in these matters. The Superior Court shall immediately issue an order directing the town clerk to transmit to the county clerk all ballots, papers, and records affecting the appeal, and fixing a time for hearing in open court or before a referee not later than five days from the making of the order. The order shall be served upon the town clerk and all other candidates who have appeared before the board. A reference may be ordered upon any or all questions. At the time and place so fixed, the matter shall be summarily heard and determined and the costs taxed as in other civil actions. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 13.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 55 - Local Elections › § 2688. Recount on question submitted

§ 2688. Recount on question submitted
(a) A registered voter or, in the case of a union school district, at least one registered voter from each member of the union district may demand a recount of ballots on any question submitted to the vote of the municipality using the Australian ballot system, if the margin by which the question passed or failed is less than five percent of the total votes cast on the question.
(b) The request shall be filed with the municipal clerk within 10 days after the vote. The procedure shall be the same as in the case of recount of the votes cast for a candidate at an election.
(c) The petitioner and his or her designated representative and a voter representing the other side of the question voted upon and his or her designated representative may inspect the vote and observe the recount under the guidance of the board of civil authority. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 115; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 59.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2701. Presidential primary; time of holding; form of ballot

§ 2701. Presidential primary; time of holding; form of ballot
In presidential election years, a presidential primary for each major political party shall be held in all municipalities on the first Tuesday in March. The Secretary of State shall prepare and distribute for use at the primary an official ballot for each party for which one or more candidates qualify for the placing of their names on the ballot under section 2702 of this title. Ballots shall be printed on index stock and configured to be readable by vote tabulators. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 1995, No. 38, § 2; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 33.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2702. Nominating petition

§ 2702. Nominating petition
(a) The name of any person shall be printed upon the primary ballot as a candidate for nomination by any major political party if petitions signed by at least 1,000 voters in accordance with sections 2353, 2354, and 2358 of this title are filed with the Secretary of State, together with the written consent of the person to the printing of the person’s name on the ballot.
(b) Petitions shall be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December preceding the primary election.
(c) The petition shall be in a form prescribed by the Secretary of State.
(d) A person’s name shall not be listed as a candidate on the primary ballot of more than one party in the same election.
(e) Each petition shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $2,000.00 to be paid to the Secretary of State. However, if the petition of a candidate is accompanied by the affidavit of the candidate, which shall be available for public inspection, that the candidate and the candidate’s campaign committee are without sufficient funds to pay the filing fee, the Secretary of State shall waive all but $300.00 of the payment of the filing fee by that candidate. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 1995, No. 38, § 3; 2011, No. 66, § 16, eff. June 1, 2011; amended 2013, No. 1, § 82; 2017, No. 50, § 62.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2703. Examining petitions; supplementary petitions

§ 2703. Examining petitions; supplementary petitions
The Secretary of State shall examine the petitions and ascertain whether they conform to the provisions of this chapter, and sections 2353, 2354, and 2358 of this title. If found not to conform, he or she shall state in writing why a particular petition cannot be accepted, and within 72 hours from receipt he or she shall return it to the candidate in whose behalf it was filed. In such case, supplementary petitions may be filed not later than 10 days after the deadline for filing petitions. However, supplementary petitions shall not be accepted if petitions with the signatures of at least 1,000 persons were not filed by the deadline for filing petitions set forth in section 2702 of this chapter. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 2015, No. 30, § 29, eff. May 26, 2015.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2704. Ballots

§ 2704. Ballots
A person voting at the primary shall be required to ask for the ballot of the party in which the voter wishes to vote and an election official shall record the voter’s choice of ballot by marking the entrance checklist with a letter code, as designated by the Secretary of State, to indicate the voter’s party choice. The names of all candidates on the ballot shall be listed in alphabetical order. Each voter may vote for one candidate for the presidential nomination of one party, either by placing a mark opposite the printed name of a candidate as in other primaries, or by writing in the name of the candidate of the voter’s choice. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 1995, No. 38, § 4; 2003, No. 59, § 43.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2705. Checklist

§ 2705. Checklist
The checklist for the primary shall be the checklist to be used at the annual town meeting, except that the names of residents of unorganized towns and gores shall be added to the checklist in the manner provided in section 2123 of this title and it shall be stated next to their names that they are eligible to vote in the presidential primary but not on town meeting items. Towns that do not hold an annual meeting on the first Tuesday or the Monday evening before the first Tuesday in March shall update their checklist before the election as required by chapter 43 of this title. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; 1995, No. 38, § 5.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2706. Provisions applicable

§ 2706. Provisions applicable
The appropriate provisions of this title shall apply to presidential primaries, unless clearly inconsistent herewith. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 1995, No. 38, § 6.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2715. Party convention to elect delegates

§ 2715. Party convention to elect delegates
(a) The State committee of each major political party holding a national convention shall call a party convention, under rules proposed in advance and adopted by the committee, to be held during the month of May or June in each presidential election year. At the convention, delegates and alternates to the national convention of such party, to the number apportioned to this State, shall be elected by the rules adopted by each major political party.
(b) Each major political party shall adopt rules relating to the delegates and alternates of a candidate who has withdrawn as a candidate. A declaration of withdrawal shall be made in writing and becomes effective when filed with the Secretary of State.
(c) Each major political party shall adopt rules relating to the manner in which the delegates elected in accordance with this section shall represent, at the national convention, the voters for whom the delegates were elected. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 1991, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 10, 1992; 1995, No. 38, § 7.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2716. Notification to Secretary of State

§ 2716. Notification to Secretary of State
Not later than 5:00 p.m. on the 65th day before the day of the general election, the chair of the State committee of each major political party shall certify in writing to the Secretary of State the names of the presidential and vice presidential nominees selected at the party’s national convention. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 60; 2017, No. 50, § 63.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2721. Nomination of presidential electors

§ 2721. Nomination of presidential electors
In presidential election years, presidential electors for major political parties shall be nominated at the party platform convention held pursuant to this title. Electors for all other presidential candidates shall be nominated pursuant to chapter 49, subchapter 3 of this title. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2722. Certification of nominees for electors

§ 2722. Certification of nominees for electors
After adjournment of the platform convention of a major political party, the chair and secretary of the convention shall promptly execute a sworn statement certifying the names, towns of residence, and correct mailing addresses of the persons nominated by the convention to serve as electors, and shall promptly file the statement with the Secretary of State, along with the written consent of each person to be a nominee for elector. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2731. Certificates of election

§ 2731. Certificates of election
When the canvassing committee provided for in section 2592 of this title meets, it shall issue its certificates of election, with respect to the presidential election, to the electors nominated by the party whose candidate for President has received the greatest number of votes, except that if the agreement set forth in 17 V.S.A. chapter 58 (agreement among the states to elect the President by national popular vote) governs the appointment of presidential electors as provided in subsection 2753(i) of this title, the committee shall issue its certificates of election, with respect to the presidential election, to the electors nominated in association with the national popular vote winner as provided in subsection 2753(c) of this title. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 2021, No. 123 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 57 - Presidential Elections › § 2732. Meeting of electors

§ 2732. Meeting of electors
(a) The electors shall meet at the State House on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December next following their election to vote for the President and Vice President of the United States, agreeably to the laws of the United States.
(b)(1) If there is a vacancy in the electoral college on that day, occasioned by death, refusal to act, neglect to attend, failure of a person elected to qualify, or for other cause, the other electors present shall at once fill such vacancy viva voce and by a plurality of votes.
(2) When all the electors appear or a vacancy therein is filled, the electors shall perform the duties required of them by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
(3) If a vacancy occurs and is filled as aforesaid, the electors shall attach to the certificate of their votes a statement showing how such a vacancy occurred and their action thereon.
(c)(1) Each elector shall vote for the candidates for President and Vice President who were nominated by the same political party or organization that nominated the elector or for the legal successor who has replaced that candidate for President and Vice President due to the candidate’s death, resignation, or disqualification.
(2) Each elector shall present the elector’s completed ballots to the Secretary of State, who shall examine them.
(3)(A) The Secretary of State shall accept and count the ballots of an elector who has voted for the candidates for President and Vice President required under subdivision (1) of this subsection (c).
(B) The Secretary of State shall not accept and shall not count an elector’s ballots if the elector has not marked both ballots or has marked one ballot in violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection (c).
(4) If an elector refuses to present a ballot, presents an unmarked ballot, or presents a ballot marked in violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection (c), then the elector’s office is vacated, the Secretary of State shall declare the creation of the vacancy, and the vacancy shall be filled as set forth in subsection (b) of this section. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 2021, No. 123 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 58 - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote › § 2752. Article II—Right of the people in member states to vote for president and vice president

§ 2752. Article II—Right of the people in member states to vote for president and vice president
Each member state shall conduct a statewide popular election for President and Vice President of the United States. (Added 2011, No. 10, § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 58 - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote › § 2753. Article III—Manner of appointing presidential electors in member states

§ 2753. Article III—Manner of appointing presidential electors in member states
(a) Prior to the time set by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, the chief election official of each member state shall determine the number of votes for each presidential slate in each State of the United States and in the District of Columbia in which votes have been cast in a statewide popular election and shall add such votes together to produce a “national popular vote total” for each presidential slate.
(b) The chief election official of each member state shall designate the presidential slate with the largest national popular vote total as the “national popular vote winner.”
(c) The presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment in that official’s own state of the elector slate nominated in that state in association with the national popular vote winner.
(d) At least six days before the day fixed by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, each member state shall make a final determination of the number of popular votes cast in the state for each presidential slate and shall communicate an official statement of such determination within 24 hours to the chief election official of each other member state.
(e) The chief election official of each member state shall treat as conclusive an official statement containing the number of popular votes in a state for each presidential slate made by the day established by federal law for making a state’s final determination conclusive as to the counting of electoral votes by Congress.
(f) In event of a tie for the national popular vote winner, the presidential elector-certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment of the elector slate nominated in association with the presidential slate receiving the largest number of popular votes within that official’s own state.
(g) If, for any reason, the number of presidential electors nominated in a member state in association with the national popular vote winner is less than or greater than that state’s number of electoral votes, the presidential candidate on the presidential slate that has been designated as the national popular vote winner shall have the power to nominate the presidential electors for that state and that state’s presidential elector certifying official shall certify the appointment of such nominees.
(h) The chief election official of each member state shall immediately release to the public all vote counts or statements of votes as they are determined or obtained.
(i) This article shall govern the appointment of presidential electors in each member state in any year in which this agreement is, on July 20, in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes. (Added 2011, No. 10, § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 58 - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote › § 2754. Article IV—Other provisions

§ 2754. Article IV—Other provisions
(a) This agreement shall take effect when states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes have enacted this agreement in substantially the same form and the enactments by such states have taken effect in each state.
(b) Any member state may withdraw from this agreement, except that a withdrawal occurring six months or less before the end of a President’s term shall not become effective until a President or Vice President shall have been qualified to serve the next term.
(c) The chief executive of each member state shall promptly notify the chief executive of all other states of when this agreement has been enacted and has taken effect in that official’s state, when the state has withdrawn from this agreement, and when this agreement takes effect generally.
(d) This agreement shall terminate if the electoral college is abolished.
(e) If any provision of this agreement is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall not be affected. (Added 2011, No. 10, § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 58 - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote › § 2755. Article V—Definitions

§ 2755. Article V—Definitions
For purposes of this agreement:
(1) “Chief election official” shall mean the state official or body that is authorized to certify the total number of popular votes for each presidential slate.
(2) “Chief executive” shall mean the governor of a state of the United States or the mayor of the District of Columbia.
(3) “Elector slate” shall mean a slate of candidates who have been nominated in a state for the position of presidential elector in association with a presidential slate.
(4) “Presidential elector” shall mean an elector for President and Vice President of the United States.
(5) “Presidential elector certifying official” shall mean the state official or body that is authorized to certify the appointment of the state’s presidential electors.
(6) “Presidential slate” shall mean a slate of two persons, the first of whom has been nominated as a candidate for President of the United States and the second of whom has been nominated as a candidate for Vice President of the United States, or any legal successors to such persons, regardless of whether both names appear on the ballot presented to the voter in a particular state.
(7) “State” shall mean a state of the United States and the District of Columbia; and
(8) “Statewide popular election” shall mean a general election in which votes are cast for presidential slates by individual voters and counted on a statewide basis. (Added 2011, No. 10, § 1.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2902. Exceptions

§ 2902. Exceptions
The definitions of “contribution,” “expenditure,” and “electioneering communication” shall not apply to:
(1) any news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication that has not been paid for or such facilities are not owned or controlled by any political party, committee, or candidate; or
(2) any communication distributed through a public access television station if the communication complies with the laws and rules governing the station and if all candidates in the race have an equal opportunity to promote their candidacies through the station. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2903. Penalties

§ 2903. Penalties
(a) A person who knowingly and intentionally violates a provision of subchapter 2, 3, or 4 of this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(b) A person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000.00 for each violation and shall refund to the Secretary of State an amount equivalent to any contributions or expenditures that violate subdivision 2983(b)(1) of this chapter.
(c) In addition to the other penalties provided in this section, a State’s Attorney or the Attorney General may institute any appropriate action, injunction, or other proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate any violation of this chapter. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014; amended 2015, No. 30, § 29a, eff. May 26, 2015.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2904a. Reports to the State Ethics Commission

§ 2904a. Reports to the State Ethics Commission
Upon receipt of a complaint made in regard to a violation of this chapter or of any rule made pursuant to this chapter, the Attorney General or a State’s Attorney shall:
(1) Forward a copy of the complaint to the State Ethics Commission established in 3 V.S.A. chapter 31. The Attorney General or State’s Attorney shall provide this information to the Commission within 10 days of his or her receipt of the complaint.
(2) File a report with the Commission regarding his or her decision as to whether to bring an enforcement action as a result of that complaint. The Attorney General or State’s Attorney shall make this report within 10 days of that decision. (Added 2017, No. 79, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2905. Adjustments for inflation

§ 2905. Adjustments for inflation
(a)(1) Whenever it is required by this chapter, the Secretary of State shall make adjustments to monetary amounts provided in this chapter based on the Consumer Price Index. Increases shall be rounded to the nearest $10.00 and shall apply for the term of two two-year general election cycles. Increases shall be effective for the first two-year general election cycle beginning after the general election held in 2016.
(2) As used in this section, Consumer Price Index shall mean the Northeast Region Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, designated as “CPI-U,” in the northeast region, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(b) On or before the first two-year general election cycle beginning after the general election held in 2016, the Secretary of State shall calculate and publish on the online database set forth in section 2906 of this chapter each adjusted monetary amount that will apply to those two two-year general election cycles. On or before the beginning of each second subsequent two-year general election cycle, the Secretary of State shall publish the amount of each adjusted monetary amount that shall apply for that two-year general election cycle and the next two-year general election cycle. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014; amended 2015, No. 30, § 30, eff. May 26, 2015.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2906. Campaign database; candidate information web page

§ 2906. Campaign database; candidate information web page
(a) Campaign database. For each election, the Secretary of State shall develop and continually update a publicly accessible campaign database, which shall be made available to the public through the Secretary of State’s home page online service or through printed reports from the Secretary of State in response to a public request within 14 days of the date of the request. The database shall contain:
(1) at least the following information for all candidates for statewide, county, and local office and for the General Assembly:
(A) for candidates receiving public financing grants, the amount of each grant awarded; and
(B) the information contained in any reports submitted pursuant to subchapter 4 of this chapter;
(2) an Internet link to campaign finance reports filed by Vermont’s candidates for federal office;
(3) the adjustments for inflation made to monetary amounts as required by this chapter; and
(4) any photographs, biographical sketches, and position statements submitted to the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Candidate information web page.
(1) Any candidate for statewide office and any candidate for federal office qualified to be on the ballot in this State may submit to the Secretary of State a photograph, biographical sketch, and position statement of a length and format specified by the Secretary of State for the purposes of preparing a candidate information web page within the website of the Secretary of State.
(2) Without making any substantive changes in the material presented, the Secretary of State shall prepare a candidate information web page on the Secretary of State’s website that includes the candidates’ photographs, biographies, and position statements; a brief explanation of the process used to obtain candidate submissions; and, with respect to offices for which public financing is available, an indication of which candidates are receiving Vermont campaign finance grants and which candidates are not receiving Vermont campaign finance grants.
(3) The Secretary of State shall populate the candidate information web page by posting each candidate’s submission no later than three business days after receiving the candidate’s submission. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2907. Administration

§ 2907. Administration
The Secretary of State shall administer this chapter and shall perform all duties required under this chapter. The Secretary of State may employ or contract for the services of persons necessary for performance of these duties. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2921. Candidates; registration; checking account; treasurer

§ 2921. Candidates; registration; checking account; treasurer
(a) Each candidate who has made expenditures or accepted contributions of $500.00 or more in an election cycle shall register with the Secretary of State within 10 days of reaching the $500.00 threshold or on the date that the next report is required of the candidate under this chapter, whichever occurs first, stating his or her full name and address; the office the candidate is seeking; the name and address of the bank in which the candidate maintains his or her campaign checking account; and the name and address of the treasurer responsible for maintaining the checking account. A candidate’s treasurer may be the candidate or his or her spouse.
(b) All expenditures by a candidate shall be paid by either a credit card or a debit card, check, or other electronic transfer from the single campaign checking account in the bank designated by the candidate under subsection (a) of this section, or, if under $250.00, the candidate may make the expenditure from cash from that campaign checking account if accompanied by a receipt, a copy of which shall be maintained by the candidate for at least two years from the end of the election cycle in which the expenditure was made. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the payment of fees required to be made from a separately held online account designated solely to collect campaign contributions made to the candidate.
(c) As used in this section, “election cycle” means:
(1) in the case of a general or local election, the period that begins 38 days after the previous general or local election for the office and ends 38 days after the general or local election for the office for which that person is a candidate, and includes any primary or run-off election related to that general or local election; or
(2) in the case of a special election, the period that begins on the date the special election for the office was ordered and ends 38 days after that special election, and includes any special primary or run-off election related to that special election. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 17 - Elections › Chapter 61 - Campaign Finance › § 2922. Political committees; registration; checking account; treasurer

§ 2922. Political committees; registration; checking account; treasurer
(a)(1) Each political committee shall register with the Secretary of State within 10 days of making expenditures of $1,000.00 or more and accepting contributions of $1,000.00 or more stating its full name and address; the name and address of the bank in which it maintains its campaign checking account; and the name and address of the treasurer responsible for maintaining the checking account.
(2)(A) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection, a legislative leadership political committee shall designate in its registration that it is established as a legislative leadership political committee.
(B) The Secretary of State shall provide on his or her website a list of all legislative leadership political committees that have been designated as provided in this subdivision (2).
(b) All expenditures by a political committee shall be paid by either a credit card or a debit card, check, or other electronic transfer from the single campaign checking account in the bank designated by the political committee under subsection (a) of this section, or, if under $250.00, the political committee may make the expenditure from cash from that campaign checking account if accompanied by a receipt, a copy of which shall be maintained by the political committee for at least two years from the end of the two-year general election cycle in which the expenditure was made. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the payment of fees required to be made from a separately held online account designated solely to collect campaign contributions made to the political committee.
(c) A political committee whose principal place of business or whose treasurer is not located in this State shall file a statement with the Secretary of State designating a person who resides in this State upon whom may be served any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the political committee. This statement shall be filed at the same time as the registration required in subsection (a) of this section. (Added 2013, No. 90 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 23, 2014; amended 2015, No. 49, § 10.)