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Laws governing ballot measures in Vermont

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Laws governing ballot measures

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State
Laws governing state initiative processes
Laws governing state recall processes
Changes to ballot measure law in 2025
Difficulty analysis of changes to laws governing ballot measures
Analysis of 2025 changes to laws governing ballot measures
Local
Laws governing local ballot measures

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This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Vermont, including constitutional amendments and campaign finance regulations.

Explore the links below for more information:

Laws governing ballot measures in Vermont

Types of ballot measures in Vermont

  • In Vermont, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
  • In Vermont, a total of eight ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2022. Seven ballot measures were approved, and one ballot measure was defeated.


Amending the Vermont Constitution

  • The Vermont Constitution provides one mechanism for amending the state's constitution—legislatively referred constitutional amendments. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required in the Vermont State Senate, and a simple majority vote is required in the Vermont House of Representatives in the first legislative session. A simple majority vote is required in both chambers in the second legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Vermont requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.


Laws governing local ballot measures in Vermont

  • State law authorizes an initiative process for amendments to municipal charters; the amendment of a municipal charter initiated by the legislature; and a local referendum process.


Laws governing recall in Vermont

  • Vermont law does not provide for the recall of state officials.
  • Recall of local elected officials in Vermont is allowed in some jurisdictions. As of September 2025, only one town had used its recall provision to remove an elected official from office.


Campaign finance requirements for Vermont ballot measures

  • Under Vermont law, any group of at least two individuals that receives and expends more than $1,000 in support of or opposition to a ballot measure in one year is considered to be a political committee. Committees are not required to file an official statement of organization, but all political committees must file a form naming a treasurer and specifying a single checking account at a single bank to be used by the campaign.

Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Vermont

See also: Changes to laws governing ballot measures
See also: Changes in 2025 to laws governing ballot measures
The Vermont State Legislature did not pass legislation concerning ballot measures in 2025.

See also

Footnotes