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History of direct democracy in Vermont
Winston Allen Flint, writing in The Progressive Movement in Vermont, noted that "no serious attempt was ever made in Vermont" to get a statewide initiative process: "There is little evidence to show that it was given any important recognition in Vermont by party platforms, legislators, press, or public opinion. "
There has been little history of initiative and reform in Vermont, however, in 1981 and 1982 Vermonters used their local initiative process in over 200 town meetings to vote on a resolution calling for U.S. - Soviet nuclear arms freeze. More than 160 towns backed the freeze, which therefore had much the same effect as a statewide initiative.
Acknowledgements
This Initiative & Referendum Institute article is used with their permission, and is based on David Schmidt's book, Citizen Lawmakers: The Ballot Initiative Revolution.
