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The Vermont Primary Voting is Underway. The Primary Election decides which candidates each political party will send to the General Election in November. You can vote now in person at your town clerk’s office, or you can request that an early ballot be mailed to you. Keep in mind that an early ballot, whether returned by mail or in person, must be received no later than August 11.

If you are turning 18 by November 3, you can vote in this primary.

In advance of voting, check your voter registration status and other personal information, view the ballots and candidates, and see more  detailed candidate information, including candidate websites and social media, on the Vermont Voter Portal: https://vote.vermont.gov/public/dashboard.

To vote by mail in the August 11 primary, you must request the Vote by Mail Ballot from your town clerk. You can make this request (and check your voter registration status) at the Vermont Voter Portal. There is no deadline to register to vote in Vermont. To ensure your name appears on the checklist, register online by the Friday before the election. You can also register in person up to, and including, the day of an election. https://vote.vermont.gov/public/dashboard

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is encouraging primary voters to vote by mail by requesting an early ballot and returning it, if by mail, at least a week before the August 11 primary election to be certain it arrives in time. The ballot must arrive back at the town clerk’s office by August 11.

There’s a difference in the process for early voting between the primary election and the November general election. In the general election, every registered voter will automatically be sent an early ballot 45 days before the election. In contrast, early ballots are not automatically sent out to all voters for the primary election. You must request an early ballot from your town clerk by phone or in person, or request online on the Vermont Voter Portal: https://vote.vermont.gov/public/dashboard. If you request an early ballot, you’ll receive primary ballots for the Democrats, Republicans, and Progressives. If you return the ballot by mail, you’ll fill out one, which you’ll sign and date and put in a sealed envelope, and you’ll put the other unused ballots in a second envelope. You return both envelopes to your town clerk by mail or in person.

If you prefer to vote in person on August 11 but you had requested an early ballot, remember to bring the ballot with you to the polling place. If you can’t find it, you’ll be asked to fill out a form. Town clerks have a record of all ballots sent out to ensure that no person votes twice. You can check your voter registration status and other personal information, view the ballots and candidates, and see more detailed candidate information, including candidate websites and social media, on the Vermont Voter Portal: https://vote.vermont.gov/public/dashboard

There are several other good sources of Vermont primary election information that are a bit more user friendly than the Voter Portal. Check out the Vermont Public website, including “Latest Vermont Election News”, and the Ballot Ready website for detailed candidate information.