This year the Vermont Secretary of State’s office is sending ballots directly by mail to every active, registered voter between Sept. 21 and Oct. 1. Voters are encouraged to return ballots by mail to their local town clerk several weeks in advance of the Nov. 3 general election.
Every ballot will include an envelope addressed to the individual voter’s local town or city clerk’s office.
Polls will be open Nov. 3 with social distancing rules in place, but Secretary of State Jim Condos, through an emergency provision, is urging Vermonters to vote by mail to protect the health and safety of town clerks, poll workers and voters.
If you don’t receive a mail-in ballot by Oct. 1, or if the ballot you receive has any issues, contact your town clerk before Oct. 16.
For all the information you need to know about candidates, including bios, campaign finance data and answers to pressing questions about Covid, economic issues and social justice, click here to check out VTDigger’s Election Guide.
Mailing in your ballot
The Secretary of State strongly suggests that you mail your ballot by Oct. 24. That’s because the U.S. Postal Service says deliveries can take a week.
If you have not mailed your ballot by Oct. 24, you may bring it to your town or city clerk between Oct. 25 and Nov. 2.
On Nov. 3, you can bring your mail-in ballot to the polls.
All ballots must be returned to the town clerk’s office before the close of the office on the day before the election, or to the polling place before 7 p.m. on the day of the election, in order to be counted.
Marking your ballot
For your ballot to count, there is no need to vote in every candidate race or every ballot item. You can leave boxes unmarked or write in candidates. If you make a mistake, you can request a new ballot from your town clerk.
Are you registered to vote?
Click here to register to vote online or find out if you are already registered. You can also request a voter application from your town or city clerk’s office.
You may register to vote on any day up to and including the day of the election, but if you want your name to appear on the checklist, you must register the Friday before the election, October 30.
If you register online the day before the election or on the primary, there won’t be time to process the application and you may be asked to fill out another application at the polls.
What you’ll need to register
A valid ID (passport or drivers license) or utility bill, bank statement or government document with your name and address.
Take the voter’s oath
You must take the voter’s oath, which can be self-administered. Here’s the oath: “You solemnly swear or affirm that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the State of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person.”
Voting in person
All polls will be open between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, depending on where you live. If possible, bring the ballot you received in the mail — otherwise, you’ll need to sign a sworn statement affirming that you haven’t already voted. All polling places close at 7 p.m.
Polling locations: You can find polling stations in every district here.
Polling place rules
No identification is required at the polls, unless you are a first-time voter who registered by mail. If you go to the polls and your name isn’t on the voter checklist you can still vote. Just sign a sworn statement affirming that you registered. Don’t wear buttons, stickers or t-shirts promoting a candidate or ballot issue at the polls. No politicking inside the polling place.
Accessible voting
The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office offers a state-of-the-art accessible voting system for voters with a disability that may be used at the polling place or from home during the early voting period.
If you have questions, please contact the Elections Division, 1-800-439-8683, or by email sos.elections@vermont.gov
Source: Vermont Secretary of State’s office.
Here is what the ballot will look like:
