Voting in Vermont – Primary Day is Tuesday

Tuesday is the Primary Election Day! Do you have a plan to vote? With election season in full swing, I know many people are thinking about the safety & security of Vermont’s elections system, especially in light of the federal government threats to election integrity and voters’ rights. So I want to provide you with some information about how voting works in Vermont and what we’ve done to make it even more secure this year.

Voting in Vermont. Voting in Vermont is easy. There is an extensive early voting period, but at this point, the best option is to vote in person on Tuesday. If you already have an absentee ballot, bring it to your polling place on Tuesday. Vermont also allows same-day voter registration, so if you’re not yet registered to vote, you can register & vote on Tuesday. For young voters, if you will turn 18 before the General Election on November 3, you can vote on Tuesday.

To find out more information about voting, you can visit the Vermont Voter Portal to find out where to vote, see a sample ballot, check the status of your ballot if you’ve voted early, and more. You can also check out the frequently asked questions pages: FAQs for Voter Registration and Election Day FAQs. If you have a disability and need assistance, local elections officials are required to provide you with assistance. Watch this video about accessible voting machines and check out the website on Accessibility and Voting. Finally, Vermonters experiencing homelessness can vote; the video at the link explains how.

Legislation Protecting Election Integrity. This past session, we passed several bills to protect voting rights and elections in Vermont. The Voter Protections Act of 2026 updates our voter protection laws to increase penalties and create new protections against interfering with or obstructing voting. It also explicitly prohibits voting qualifications or procedures that would deny voting rights based on race or color, membership in a language minority group, or having a disability. Finally, the Act tightens safeguards for obtaining and using voter lists.

We passed a bill that I introduced, Act 75, which regulates the use of deceptive or fraudulent synthetic media, or AI-generated content, related to elections or political campaigns, so voters are aware that some information may be intentionally fake or misleading. We passed Act 87 which explicitly gives Vermonters the ability to sue the federal government for depriving them of rights, including the right to vote. Finally, we passed Act 150 which prevents civil arrests, including by ICE, in sensitive places, which includes polling places. Together, these bills strive to make elections and voting in Vermont more safe, secure, and fair.

We have a great Secretary of State in Vermont, Sarah Copeland Hanzas. Secretary Copeland Hanzas has been working hard to make sure our elections are secure from both fraud and interference from the federal government. Last year, she refused to release VT’s voter list to the Trump administration. She also works closely with our excellent town clerks to make sure elections are secure. Watch this video about election security to learn more.

Election Guides. Several local news organizations produce election guides to help voters learn about candidates. You can check out the VTDigger Primary Election Guide or Vermont Public Election 2026 or the Addison Independent. You can also find a personalized voter guide at Secretary of State’s Vermont Voter Portal. Stay informed and make a plan to vote!

If you think this information is helpful, please feel free to share this post on your local Front Porch Forum. Thanks for reading and voting!

Photo Note: Voters cast their ballots in Bristol in 2022.