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Vermont state legislative Democratic primaries, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Nov. 6
- Early voting: Sept. 21 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 5
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.[2]
| 2018 Vermont State Legislature elections | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | November 6, 2018 |
| Primary | August 14, 2018 |
| 2018 elections | |
|---|---|
| Choose a chamber below: | |
The Democratic primary elections for seats in the Vermont State Senate and the Vermont House of Representatives were on August 14, 2018. For information about the Republican primary elections in Vermont, click here.
The general election was on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2018. In the state Senate, all 30 seats were up for election. In the state House, all 150 seats were up for election.
Incumbents who did not advance to the general election
Retiring incumbents
Thirteen Democratic state House incumbents did not seek re-election in 2018:
- David Sharpe (Addison-4 District)
- Bill Botzow (Bennington-1 District)
- Rachael Fields (Bennington-2-1 District)
- Alice Miller (Bennington-3 District)
- Helen Head (Chittenden-7-3 District)
- Betsy Dunn (Chittenden-8-1 District)
- Jim Condon (Chittendent-9-1 District)
- Maureen Dakin (Chittenden-9-2 District)
- Daniel Connor (Franklin-6 District)
- Stephen Carr (Rutland-6 District)
- David Deen (Windham-4 District)
- Susan Buckholz (Windsor-4-1 District)
- Gabrielle Lucke (Windham-4-2 District)
Two Democratic state Senate incumbents did not seek re-election in 2018:
- Claire Ayer (Addison District)
- Francis Brooks (Washington District)
Incumbents defeated
Two Democratic state House incumbents were defeated in the primaries:
- Paul Belaski (Windsor-1 District)
- Valerie Stuart (Windham-2-1 District)
Competitiveness
There were 22 open seats in 2018, which was higher than the 10 open seats in 2016 and the 11 open seats in 2014. The 28 contested Democratic primaries was up from 18 in 2016 and 11 in 2014. The 29 contested Republican primaries was down from 34 in 2016 but up from 18 in 2014. The 298 candidates running was up from 255 in 2016 and 215 in 2014.
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Total candidates | Democratic primaries contested | Republican primaries contested | Total contested | Incumbents contested in primaries | Total incumbents contested in primaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 180 | 33 | 260 | 12 | 3 | 6.4% | 23 | 15.6% |
| 2016 | 180 | 34 | 144 | 18 | 2 | 8.5% | 27 | 18.5% |
| 2014 | 180 | 24 | 253 | 6 | 5 | 4.7% | 7 | 4.5% |
Partisan control
The tables below show the partisan breakdowns of the Vermont House of Representatives and the Vermont State Senate as of August 2018:
Vermont House of Representatives
| Party | As of August 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 83 | |
| Republican Party | 53 | |
| Vermont Progressive Party | 7 | |
| Independent | 7 | |
| Total | 150 | |
Vermont State Senate
| Party | As of August 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 21 | |
| Republican Party | 7 | |
| Vermont Progressive Party | 2 | |
| Total | 30 | |
Battleground races
Ballotpedia identified battleground races in the 2018 Vermont state legislative Democratic primary elections. These primaries had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could have led to changes in the membership of the Republican caucus or had an impact on general election races.
To determine the Vermont state legislative Democratic primary battleground races in 2018, Ballotpedia examined races that fit one or more of the three factors listed below:
- Identified by the media as a notable primary election.
- One or more of the candidates received a notable endorsement.
- The primary was known to be competitive based on past results or because it was a rematch of a primary that was competitive in the past.
Media coverage
This section provides an overview of media reactions to the Vermont state legislative Democratic primaries.[3] Selected articles are presented as a jumping-off point for deeper exploration of media coverage and as an overview of narratives that have emerged surrounding the elections.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Vermont utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[4][5]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Vermont, all polls must open by 10 a.m. All polls close at 7 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[6]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
A United States citizen and state resident who is at least 18 years of age may register to vote in Vermont. The registrant must take the "Voter's Oath," which is included on the voter registration form.[7][8]
According to the secretary of state's website, "Beginning January 1, 2017, eligible persons may register to vote on any day up to and including the day of the election. Registration is available during all normal business hours of your town or city clerk's office on days preceding the election and during polling hours on Election Day. "[7]
Automatic registration
Vermont automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[8]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Vermont has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Vermont allows same-day voter registration.[7]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Vermont, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.[7]
Verification of citizenship
Vermont does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
As of November 2024, Burlington, Vermont had authorized noncitizen residents to vote in local board elections. Noncitizens must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.[9]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[10] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The My Voter Page, run by the Vermont Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Vermont does not require voters to present identification while voting in most cases. However, first-time voters who registered by mail are required to present identification at the polls.[11]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Vermont Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
- Current utility bill
- Current bank statement
- Another government document containing your residential address
Early voting
Vermont permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
For general elections, Vermont holds what are commonly referred to as all-mail elections, meaning that voting is conducting primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail. Election officials automatically distribute mail-in ballots to eligible electors in general elections. For primary elections, voters who wish to vote by mail must request a mail-in ballot.
See also
- Vermont state legislative Republican primaries, 2018
- Vermont House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Vermont State Senate elections, 2018
- Vermont State Legislature
- Vermont elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ Polls may have opened earlier than 10:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. was the latest poll opening time.
- ↑ Polls may have opened earlier than 10:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. was the latest poll opening time.
- ↑ In selecting articles for inclusion in this section, Ballotpedia has drawn from a variety of sources and viewpoints to identify articles that are representative of broader trends in media coverage.
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State,"Party Organization," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Vermont State Legislature, “17 V.S.A. § 2561,” accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Vermont Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Vermont Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ City of Burlington, Vermont, "City of Burlington All Legal Resident Voter Registration Form," accessed November 14, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Election Day FAQs," accessed April 20, 2023
