q WELCOME TO THE VOTING BOOTH
Voting and Public Office
When you reach the age of 18, as a citizen of Vermont and the United States you may vote in all federal, state, and local elections. You may also run for any office except President, U.S. Senator, or U.S. Representative. You have all the same rights and obligations as all adult citizens.
You have to register to vote, of course, but this is a painless process. You need to complete a voter application form, available at the town clerk’s office in the town where you reside. You may also register when you register your motor vehicle. Once registered, you may retain this voting status in your home town, even if you go away to college, enlist in the armed services, or live out of the country. If you change your permanent residence, then you will have to register to vote in the new town. In Vermont, you have to register only once, but it has to be done no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the election at which you cast your first vote. So don’t wait until the last minute to visit your town clerk.
Vermont does not require any political affiliation or party registration in order to vote, as in some states. Other than the presidential primary, you are not required to tell anyone which party you favor in any election. In that primary, you have to tell the ballot clerk which party’s ballot you want, but that doesn’t mean you are a member of that party.
There are four types of elections in Vermont. First there are local elections. Town meetings are held every year in every town and city in Vermont. You should attend. That is where your town sets its property taxes for the year and elects local officers like select board members, the town clerk, and others. It is a traditional Vermont experience, and it is our best example of direct democracy in action. It may be a floor meeting where anyone can ask questions. It may be an Australian ballot election, which is run in the same manner as a general or primary election, with preprinted ballots.
In even-numbered years, Vermont holds the second type of elections state elections. Governor, state senators, state representatives and other constitutional officers are elected every two years in Vermont. County officers like state’s attorneys and sheriffs are elected every four years. General elections are held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November. Before then, on the second Tuesday of September, the state holds a primary to decide the names of those candidates who will
24 On Your Own, 2008 Edition
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