The bill amends Vermont's election laws with a focus on candidate eligibility, nomination processes, and campaign finance regulations. It establishes that candidates who lose a major party primary cannot be nominated for the general election by any other party or appear on the ballot as independent candidates for the same office. Additionally, it introduces new requirements for write-in candidates, including the need to file a form affirming their intent to have votes counted and sets a minimum threshold for them to qualify as primary winners. The bill also modifies absentee ballot regulations for military and overseas voters, ensuring timely delivery and clarifying definitions, while lowering the registration threshold for political committees and independent expenditure-only political committees from $1,000 to $500.

Moreover, the bill includes provisions for auditing voter checklists and district boundaries, requiring local boards to align their checklists with district boundaries by September 15, 2025. It modifies deadlines for election-related filings and repeals certain sections of existing law, such as those concerning candidates not reaching monetary reporting thresholds. The bill also clarifies that gatherings of voters at municipal meetings are exempt from Open Meeting Law requirements and allows supplementary petitions to be filed within 10 days after the initial deadline if a minimum number of signatures were submitted. Additionally, it stipulates that applications for motor vehicle licenses will serve as simultaneous voter registration applications, provided the applicant attests to U.S. citizenship, and mandates the Department of Motor Vehicles to transmit applications to the Secretary of State within five days while maintaining confidentiality.

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