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VermontH.4742025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to miscellaneous changes to election law

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 5 costs, 4 mixed.

Audits of voter lists and districts

In towns split by House or Senate districts, boards and clerks must audit voter checklists so they match district lines by September 15, 2025. Clerks must send a written summary to the Elections Division by October 1, 2025. The Secretary of State must report results to the listed legislative committees by November 15, 2025. The Elections Division will notify affected towns within two weeks of passage and provide support and training.

Stronger campaign money rules and reports

Candidates must register within 10 days after they raise or spend $500 and list their campaign bank and treasurer. Committees must pay spending from one campaign checking account using traceable methods; cash is allowed only under $250 with a receipt kept two years. Cash contributions over $100 are banned; larger gifts must be by check, card, or electronic transfer, and a contribution counts as accepted at deposit or five business days after receipt. Out‑of‑state committees must name a Vermont agent; reports must include a truth certification and signature; an end‑of‑cycle report is due by December 15 after the general unless a final report is filed. Definitions are broadened so a committee can be one person and “independent‑expenditure‑only” covers self‑funded individuals; surplus funds cannot be converted to personal use; the small‑candidate limited‑report rule is repealed.

Tighter ballot access and write-in rules

If you lose a major‑party primary, you cannot be nominated by another party or run as an independent for the same office. To get printed on a major‑party primary ballot, file at least 1,000 signatures and a written consent by 5:00 p.m. on December 15, plus a $2,000 fee (reduced to $300 with an affidavit). Officials must return nonconforming petitions within two business days; you may file supplementary pages within 10 days only if the required signatures were already filed by the deadline (for statewide filings, at least 1,000). To have write‑in votes listed, file the Secretary of State form by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election, unless a consent to print is already on file, no one is printed, or a printed candidate dies or is disqualified. Write‑ins are counted under uniform rules; a write‑in can win only with at least half the petition‑signature number (or more votes than a printed candidate) and must then file a consent to become the nominee.

Automatic voter registration at the DMV

When you apply for or renew a driver’s license or state ID, your form also registers you to vote unless you opt out. You must attest to U.S. citizenship, or DMV must already have proof. The form collects citizenship, birth info, town and E‑911 address, the voter oath, and optional email and phone. DMV sends your registration to the Secretary of State within five days, or sooner if an election is near, but will not send it if you opt out or there is no citizenship proof and no attestation. DMV must keep your records confidential.

Earlier, faster absentee ballots for voters

Town clerks must be open and mail early ballots by the 46th day before a federal election. Military and overseas voters get ballots by airmail or first‑class mail, or electronically if requested. “Overseas voter” means you last lived in Vermont and now live abroad. Clerks start processing returned envelopes 45 days before polls open and must process each within three business days or the next open day.

Ballot question spenders report at $500

Any group of two or more people, or any corporation, labor group, public interest group, or other entity that spends $500 or more to advocate a public question must file reports. Reports are due 30 days before, 10 days before, and two weeks after the election. This applies to entities other than political parties. The law lowers the prior trigger from $1,000 to $500.

Campaigns and committees register at $500

Political committees and independent‑expenditure‑only committees must register within 10 days after they receive or spend $500 or more. Registrations must list the committee’s name and address. Non‑self‑funded committees must also list their bank and treasurer contact information. Candidates who roll over surplus or who spend or accept $500 or more in the two‑year cycle must file reports. Reports follow set dates: March 15; July 1; August 1; September 1; October 1; October 15; the Friday before the general election; and two weeks after. Local committees or parties that meet $500 in a local cycle must file on the local schedule. Entities that do not meet $500 and did not roll over surplus must still file a short statement saying so.

Fines for voting more than once

If you knowingly vote more than once in the same election, or in Vermont and another state for the same office, you can be fined. The fine is up to $1,000 for a primary or general election, and up to $100 for a local election. The law also repeals the older overlapping statute on voting in more than one place.

Clear payer names on election ads

Election ads must show the name and mailing address of who paid for them. If a committee or party pays, the ad must also name any contributor who gave more than $2,000 and more than 25% of all that group’s funds this cycle. Radio, TV, and online video ads must include a spoken line naming who paid; committees must name their treasurer, and other entities their principal officer. Audio paid by a candidate need not include the candidate’s address, and agents must identify the true payer.

Justice of the peace filing windows

For justice of the peace nominations, you may file starting the fourth Monday in April. You must file by 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the Monday in July before the primary. The committee chair and secretary must also file the section 2385 statement by 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the fourth Monday in July before the primary.

Town meetings not open meeting bodies

A gathering of a town’s voters for an annual or special town meeting is not a “meeting” under the open meeting law. Voters at that meeting are not a “public body.” Other listed advisory councils remain excluded as before.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 36 • No: 107

House vote • 3/25/2025

Which was disagreed to on a Roll Call Failed -- Needed 72 of 143 to Pass -- Yeas = 36, Nays = 107

Yes: 36 • No: 107 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 25, 2025

    6/16/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on June 25, 2025

    6/16/2025House

  3. Delivered to the Governor on June 19, 2025

    6/16/2025House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    6/16/2025Senate

  5. Rep. McCoy of Poultney moved to deliver the bill to the Governor forthwith, which was agreed to

    6/16/2025House

  6. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    6/16/2025House

  7. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

    6/16/2025House

  8. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    6/16/2025House

  9. Rules suspended & action messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Collamore

    6/16/2025Senate

  10. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    6/16/2025Senate

  11. Rules suspended & bill placed on all remaining stages of passage, on motion of Senator Collamore

    6/16/2025Senate

  12. 3rd reading ordered

    6/16/2025Senate

  13. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations, as amended, agreed to

    6/16/2025Senate

  14. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations amended as moved by Senator(s) Collamore

    6/16/2025Senate

  15. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations

    6/16/2025Senate

  16. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

    6/16/2025Senate

  17. Second Reading

    6/16/2025Senate

  18. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

    6/13/2025Senate

  19. Second Reading

    6/13/2025Senate

  20. Entered on Notice Calendar

    6/13/2025Senate

  21. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

    3/28/2025Senate

  22. Read third time and passed

    3/26/2025House

  23. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    3/26/2025House

  24. Third Reading ordered

    3/25/2025House

  25. Rep. McCoy of Poultney, Toof of St. Albans Town, and Higley of Lowell moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to

    3/25/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 70)

    7/3/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    6/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    6/18/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    6/18/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    6/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/27/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/27/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    3/13/2025

    PDF

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