The bill amends various sections of Vermont's election laws, focusing on candidate nominations, voting procedures, and campaign finance regulations. A significant change is the introduction of the "One-Bite Candidacy" provision, which prevents candidates who lose a major party primary from being nominated for the general election by any other party or from appearing on the general election ballot as independent candidates for the same office. Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for write-in candidates, requiring them to file a form affirming their intent to have votes counted and establishing a threshold for them to qualify as primary winners. The bill also updates absentee ballot delivery regulations for military and overseas voters and lowers the registration threshold for political committees and independent expenditure-only political committees from $1,000 to $500.

Moreover, the bill introduces new auditing requirements for local boards of civil authority and town clerks to ensure voter checklists align with district boundaries, along with deadlines for audits and reporting to the Secretary of State. It clarifies the penalties for voting violations and modifies deadlines for filing nomination papers and other election-related documents. In terms of automatic voter registration, the bill allows applications for motor vehicle licenses or nondriver identification cards to serve as simultaneous voter registration applications, provided the applicant attests to U.S. citizenship. The Department of Motor Vehicles is also required to transmit applications to the Secretary of State within five days, ensuring confidentiality of records. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 17-2381, 17-2386, 17-2401, 17-2539, 17-2665, 17-2370, 17-2472, 17-2587, 17-2702, 17-2921, 17-2964, 17-2901, 17-2971, 17-2602a, 17-1971, 17-1973, 17-2103, 17-2358, 17-2313, 17-2413, 17-2493, 17-2546, 17-2703, 1-310, 7-863, 17-55, 20-2485, 24-33, 24-1529, 24-1936a
As Passed By the House -- Official: 17-2381, 17-2386, 17-2401, 17-2539, 17-2665, 17-2370, 17-2472, 17-2587, 17-2702, 17-2921, 17-2964, 17-2901, 17-2971, 17-2602a, 17-1971, 17-1973, 17-2103, 17-2358, 17-2313, 17-2413, 17-2493, 17-2546, 17-2703, 1-310, 7-863, 17-55, 20-2485, 24-33, 24-1529, 24-1936a
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 17-2381, 17-2401, 17-2539, 17-2665, 17-2370, 17-2472, 17-2587, 17-2702, 17-2921, 17-2964, 17-2901, 17-2971, 17-2602a, 17-1971, 17-1973, 17-2103, 17-2358, 17-2313, 17-2413, 17-2493, 17-2546, 17-2703, 1-310, 7-863, 17-55, 20-2485, 24-33, 24-1529, 24-1936a
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 17-2381, 17-2386, 17-2401, 17-2539, 17-2665, 17-2370, 17-2472, 17-2587, 17-2702, 17-2921, 17-2964, 17-2901, 17-2971, 17-2602a, 17-1971, 17-1973, 17-2103, 17-2358, 17-2313, 17-2413, 17-2493, 17-2546, 17-2703, 1-310, 7-863, 17-55, 20-2485, 24-33, 24-1529, 24-1936a, 17-2922, 17-2970, 17-2925, 17-2945, 17-2962, 17-2965, 17-2972, 17-2973, 17-2402, 17-2145a
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 17-2381, 17-2401, 17-2539, 17-2370, 17-2472, 17-2587, 17-2702, 17-2921, 17-2922, 17-2964, 17-2970, 17-2901, 17-2925, 17-2945, 17-2962, 17-2965, 17-2972, 17-2973, 17-1971, 17-1973, 17-2103, 17-2358, 17-2413, 17-2402, 17-2546, 17-2703, 1-310, 17-2145a
As Enacted: 17-2381, 17-2401, 17-2539, 17-2370, 17-2472, 17-2587, 17-2702, 17-2921, 17-2922, 17-2964, 17-2970, 17-2901, 17-2925, 17-2945, 17-2962, 17-2965, 17-2972, 17-2973, 17-1971, 17-1973, 17-2103, 17-2358, 17-2413, 17-2402, 17-2546, 17-2703, 1-310, 17-2145a