Laws governing local ballot measures in Vermont
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This page describes the state constitutional provisions and statutes that govern local ballot measures in Vermont. Jurisdictions often establish additional rules within the parameters of state law; those can be found in local ordinances and home-rule charters.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Laws addressing local ballot measure powers in Vermont
- General requirements for local ballot measures
- Rules for citizen-initiated local ballot measures
- Rules for referred local ballot measures
Law
The Vermont Statutes establish the rules that govern local ballot measures in the state.
General
The following outlines the general rules that govern local ballot measures in Vermont, including both citizen-initiated measures and referred measures from local government bodies.
- Town meeting and voting methods
- In Vermont, most local ballot measures are decided at town meetings, not on a secret ballot at the polls. At these town meetings, voters gather in person to decide on articles that have been published on town warnings, which are notices of the town meetings that list the articles to be decided on. These warnings act as ballot measures, but are decided in person. They can be decided by voice vote, a paper ballot, or by other means depending on the local charter.[1]
- Local ballot measures can be voted on by an Australian ballot if the municipality has adopted that system. An Australian ballot is a secret ballot cast at polls or by an absentee ballot.[2]
- Municipalities may also adopt a representative town meeting form, where voters elect representatives to attend town hall meetings and vote on the behalf of the electorate.[3]
- Vote requirements:
- Most local ballot measures require a simple majority vote.[2]
- Required ballot measures: Vermont law requires voter approval for:
- Local charter adoptions, amendments, and repeals.[4] Charter amendments require two public hearings prior to a vote, and are submitted to the annual town hall, special town hall, or the primary or general election. They must be decided by an Australian ballot, not a floor vote. Charter amendments must also be approved by the Vermont General Assembly before they can take effect.[5]
- Election timing
- Notices must be posted for annual town meetings no less than 30 days and no more than 40 days before the meeting, listing each question to be voted on.[6]
Initiatives
The following outlines the general rules that govern local citizen-initiated ballot measures in Vermont.
- Authority:
- Signatures
- A petitioned article or referendum must be signed by at least 5% of registered voters of the municipality.[7]
- Deadlines:
- Signatures for a petitioned article must be filed with the town clerk at least 47 days before the day of the town meeting.[7]
- Petitions for a referendum must be filed within 44 days of the ordinance or rule being adopted. If enough valid signatures are submitted, a meeting must take place within 60 days, or the referendum must be placed on the next annual meeting warning.[8]
Referrals
The following outlines additional rules that govern local referred ballot measures in Vermont.
- Authority:
- Deadlines:
- The warning for the town meeting, which lists the articles to be decided on, must be posted no less than 30 days and no more than 40 days before the meeting.[6]
Laws governing local ballot measures in the U.S.
Laws governing local ballot measures in the United States
As state laws govern ballot measures, the rules are different from state to state. Click on a state below to explore that state's laws on local ballot measures.
See also
- Laws governing local ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in Vermont
- Local ballot measures, Vermont
- Counties in Vermont
Footnotes
- ↑ Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2640," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2680," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2640a," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2685," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2645," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2641," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Vermont Statutes, "Title 17, Chapter 55 Section 2642," accessed December 22, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Vermont Statutes, "Title 24, Chapter 59 Section 1973," accessed December 22, 2025
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