[T]he 4th of July may have the bigger bang, but last Friday marked the start of that quieter expression of American democracy, primary season, and Vermont’s secretary of state is urging Vermonters to vote early.
“Voting is a great way to participate in our democratic process,” Secretary of State Jim Condos said in a press release noting that the voting season had begun, and urging voters “to ensure that you have cast your ballot before election day.”
Ballots must be received by city and town clerks’ offices before primary election day, Aug. 14, in order to be counted.
Vermonters can vote early by requesting a ballot from the town clerk, by phone or in person. Condos suggested voters send in their ballots a week before Election Day.
Condos predicted a lighter voter turn-out because it is a midterm election.
“Turn-out depends from year to year,” Condos said. “There is less in midterm years and more in presidential years.”
During the last gubernatorial election, in 2016, a presidential election year, 119,556 Vermonters voted in the primaries compared to 38,972 who voted in 2014, a midterm election year, according to the secretary of state’s Vermont Election Database.
According to the Pew Research Center, voter turnout is higher during presidential election years, even on the local level.
More than 300 ballot requests have been submitted since last Friday with more than 100 of them from Vermonters living overseas and in the military.
