The early voting period for the Vermont Statewide Primary elections, which take place on Tuesday, Aug. 11, has begun.
Secretary of State Jim Condos said in a news release that voting early or by mail “has taken on an increased importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we all do our part to protect the public health, voting by mail is a safe and secure way to have your voice heard in our democratic process while reducing traffic at the polling places for those Vermonters who need to vote in-person.”
Vermont's no-excuse, 45-day early voting period allows any registered voter to request an early ballot. For the 2020 August Primary elections, the Secretary of State's office will mail all registered voters a postcard with instructions on how to request their ballot by mailing a tear-off, postage paid, pre-addressed return postcard.
Vermont voters can also request their ballot directly from their Town Clerk in writing, by phone, by email, or in person during normal business hours.
Registered voters can also login to their My Voter Page at mvp.vermont.gov to check their voter registration status; update their information, including mailing address; find their town clerk's contact information; locate their polling place; view a sample ballot; and request an early ballot.
“Voting early by mail is safe, secure, and simple,” said Condos. “Americans have been voting by mail since the Civil War, and thousands of Vermonters have been voting by mail for years.”
Condos cited efforts to make voting accessible to all Vermonters, “while using strong protections in the process to ensure the integrity of every vote cast.”
Ballots cast by mail are voted and placed by the voter in a certificate envelope containing unique voter information, which the voter seals and signs under the pains and penalties of perjury, confirming their identity and affirming that they were not unduly influenced.
After receipt, the Town Clerk records the person as having voted. Using the My Voter Page, voters can check the status of their ballot, including when their request was received, when their ballot was mailed, and when their returned ballot was received.
For the August statewide primaries, Vermonters do not need to claim which major party's primary election they wish to vote in. They will receive all three ballots (Democrat, Republican, Progressive) and select in private the ballot on which they would like to vote. Voters must return the voted ballot and the two unvoted ballots.
The Secretary of State's office reports a seven-fold increase in requests for early vote ballots compared to the same date in 2018.
For more information on early voting, visit sos.vermont.gov.