Voting Access Scorecard - Vermont
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Vermont. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Vermont ranks 8. Nice! But there's still more you can do to make sure everyone has the right to vote. Take action now!Overall score: 21.5 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/frequently-asked-questions/voter-registration.aspx | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/frequently-asked-questions/voter-registration.aspx | Y |
| State has automatic registration Vermont Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2017/02/03/vt-pauses-automatic-voter-registration-after-problems/97454818/ | Y |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/frequently-asked-questions/voter-registration.aspx | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/frequently-asked-questions/voter-registration.aspx | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | V |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Must be received by the close of polls on Election Day, either in person or by mail. Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/absentee-voting.aspx | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Vermont Secretary of State: https://mvp.sec.state.vt.us/ | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/frequently-asked-questions/voter-registration.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Vermont Secretary of State: https://mvp.sec.state.vt.us/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Vermont Secretary of State: https://mvp.sec.state.vt.us/ | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/registration.aspx | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/registration.aspx | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/registration.aspx | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form 17 VSA 2150(3): http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/17/043 | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | N |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Vermont Secretary of State: https://twitter.com/VermontSOS/status/880851374694641670 | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/registration.aspx | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/registration.aspx | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters/registration.aspx | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Vermont does not appear to have a permanent voter verifiable ballot or record requirement though Vermont statutes do require printed ballots (with some limited exceptions). VSA § 2481: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/809598/title-17-2017.pdf | N |
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| State requires poll worker training VSA § 2457(a) & (b): http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/17/051/02457 | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification 24 VSA § 1427: http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/title/17 | N |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Vermont Secretary of State: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections.aspx | N |
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