Guide to Early & Absentee Voting

WHAT IS MAIL-IN/ABSENTEE VOTING?

Here are the quick facts on Early and Absentee Voting.

• Absentee voting allows registered voters to cast a ballot without going to a polling location on Election Day. If you are away from home, at college, or overseas, you can request an Early or Absent Voter Ballot be mailed to you. 
• Absentee voting is anonymous and completely secure. It is a convenient option, especially as we continue to live through COVID-19.
• Call your Town or City Clerk to ask for your Early or Absent Voter Ballot, which will arrive by mail. For the General Election, ballots will automatically be sent to all registered voters. 
• You can get an Early or Absent Voter Ballot and, later, decide to vote in-person. In that case, take your ballot with you to your polling place. Do not mail in your Early or Absent Voter Ballot- once your ballot is received at the town office, it is considered a cast ballot.
• If you lost or did not receive your Early or Absent Voter Ballot, you can sign an Affidavit Form for Undelivered or Lost Absentee Ballots and the Town or City Clerk will provide you a replacement ballot.

GUIDE TO ABSENTEE VOTING

Audrey tells you about voting absentee in a Vermont primary

Completing your Early or Absent Voter Ballot is easy! It requires three simple steps. 

STEP 1: REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

Early or Absent Voter Ballots for statewide primaries are available at least 40 days before an election. Ballots for local elections—town meeting elections by Australian ballot—are available 20 days prior to the election. You must renew your request for an Early or Absent Voter Ballot for every primary and local election. 

Early or Absent Voter Ballots for the November General Election will be mailed the final week of September to active registered voters. Voters who newly register should contact their Town or City Clerk to receive an Early or Absent Voter Ballot. Military or overseas voters should request an Early or Absent Voter Ballot at least 45 days prior to the election.

VOTER TIPS

• Check your town office hours. Some offices may be CLOSED the day before an election.
• Election time is busy!  Allow adequate mailing time for your Early or Absent Voter Ballot to be mailed to you and to be returned to your clerk’s office.
• Early or Absent Voter Ballots may be hand-delivered to your assigned polling station during voting hours on Election Day.

GETTING YOUR BALLOT

Mail. Contact your Town or City Clerk to mail you your Early or Absent Voter Ballot. Make your request early to allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you, which can take a week.

Online. Go to mvp.vermont.gov to receive your Early or Absent Voter Ballot using your My Voter Page Account. You can also complete the Vermont Absentee Ballot Request form and mail, email, or drop-off to your Town or City Clerk.

Unregistered voters may also receive an Early or Absent Voter Ballot. A voter registration application will be provided along with the Early or Absent Voter Ballot. Applicants must register to vote in the town or city where they currently reside. First-time voters will need to supply an acceptable form of ID which can be a driver’s license, passport, current utility bill, or bank statement.

In-home Ballot Delivery. If you have a disability or fall ill, an Early or Absent Voter Ballot can be delivered to your home on Election Day. You may request an Early or Absent Voter Ballot up to 5 p.m. the day before the election or by the time of closing of the Town or City Clerk’s office on the last day that the clerk has regular hours before the election. Two justices of the peace (of different parties when possible) will deliver a ballot to you and bring the ballot back to the polling place so it can be placed in the ballot box and counted.

For uniformed service members and US citizens living abroad, the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) established by the Department of Defense, ensures you have the tools and resources to vote from anywhere in the world. Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) which serves as both a Voter Registration application and Absent Voter Ballot request. It is available through various branches of the military and U.S. embassies and consulates, or online, www.FVAP.gov/election-materials. Early or Absent Voter Ballots may also be sent by email, however, under Vermont law, voted ballots may not be returned by fax or email. Ballots must be returned to the Town or City Clerk inside the absentee certificate envelope with the voter’s original signature.

STEP 2: COMPLETE YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT (Primary Election)

You will receive an envelope that says Vermont Official Early or Absent Voter Ballots from your Town or City Clerk. Inside you will find three ballots, one for each of Vermont’s major political parties (Democratic, Progressive, Republican) and three envelopes. You can only vote on one party ballot. When marking your ballot, be sure to use a black pen or pencil. Fill in the bubbles completely. Do not use check marks or an X to mark the ballot. 

After you fill out your ballot, place it in the Voted Ballot envelope also known as the Certificate Envelope. Next, complete the reverse of the Voted Ballot envelope (certificate) – write your name, town or city, and sign and date it. Your Absent Voter Ballot is invalid if this envelope is not signed. Seal the envelope.

Next, place the two unvoted ballots in the Unused/Unvoted Ballot envelope and seal it.

Insert both the Voted Ballot and Unused/Unvoted Ballot envelopes in the larger Vermont Official Early or Absent Voter Ballots return envelope addressed to your Town or City Clerk. Please know that your vote will not count if you do not return all three ballots and envelopes. If you make a mistake on your Early or Absent Voter Ballot, call your Town or City Clerk to request a replacement ballot. You may receive up to a total of three Early or Absent Voter Ballots. Spoiled ballots must be returned by mail or in person to the clerk before receiving another ballot.

STEP 2: COMPLETE YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT (General Election)

You will receive an absentee ballot envelope that says Vermont Official Early or Absent Voter Ballot from your Town or City Clerk. Inside you will find your ballot and two envelopes. Use a black pen or pencil to complete your ballot. No colored pens or markers. Fill in the bubbles completely and do not use check marks or an X to mark the ballot. 

Place your ballot in the Voted Ballot envelope, also known as the Certificate Envelope, and seal it. Make sure you complete all the information requested – your name, town or city, signature, and date. Your Early or Absent Voter Ballot will not count if you do not sign, date, and seal the certificate envelope. 

Put the signed envelope into the larger return envelope addressed to your Town or City Clerk.

STEP 3: RETURN YOUR VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOT

Early or Absent Voter Ballots may be returned by mail or in person to your Town or City Clerk’s office.  To be counted, absent voter ballots hand-delivered to a dropbox or Clerk’s office must be received before the close of business on the day before the election. Check your Town or City Clerk’s hours. You can also drop-off your ballot at your assigned polling station by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you mail back your ballot, allow at least one week for delivery. Ballots received after Election Day will not be counted regardless of postmark dates.

DEFECTIVE BALLOTS

Early or Absent Voter Ballots are considered defective when a voter is not legally qualified to vote, or has voted in person, has not signed the certificate on the voted ballot envelope or placed the voted ballot in the voted ballot envelope, or, in the case of a primary vote, failed to return the unvoted primary ballots and the unused/unvoted envelope. The voter will be notified that their ballot was defective within three days of the clerk receiving it, and will have an opportunity to correct the error and have their ballot counted.

QUESTIONS

Call or visit your Town or City Clerk. If you need additional assistance you can email the Secretary of State Elections Division at sos.elections@vermont.gov or call 800-439-VOTE.

WHEN IN DOUBT, CONTACT THE LEAGUE

If you have a question about absentee voting or elections, email us at league@lwvofvt.org. We are here to assist all voters.