Act No. 60 Page 1 of 3
2021
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General
Assembly. It is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be
exhaustive. It has been prepared by the staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without
input from members of the General Assembly. It is not intended to aid in the interpretation
of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 60 (S.15). Elections; mailing ballots; curing defective ballots; candidate
nicknames
An act relating to mailing out ballots, correcting defective ballots, and
miscellaneous changes to State election laws
This act makes a series of amendments to Title 17 to require the mailing out of
ballots to all active registered voters for the general election. In addition, this act
creates a process for a registered voter to cure a ballot that has been deemed
defective, places new requirements on the use of candidate nicknames, clarifies
statutory language concerning the voting of ballots at the town clerk’s office,
makes miscellaneous changes to election process provisions, and requires two
reports relating to State elections. Specifically:
• Sec. 1 adds new provisions regarding the use of a candidate nickname on a
ballot.
• Sec. 2 adds provisions to address outdoor polling places and drive-up
voting.
• Sec. 3 adds provisions that would allow, but not require, schools, towns,
cities, and villages to mail ballots for local elections to all active registered
voters.
• Sec. 4 amends the process for handling a duplicate early voter absentee
ballot.
• Sec. 5 clarifies that the cost of absentee ballot envelopes for local elections
shall be borne by the municipality.
• Sec. 6 clarifies that a voter may deposit the voter’s ballot directly into a
vote tabulator or ballot box when voting early in the town clerk’s office.
• Sec. 7 adds provisions to require the Secretary of State’s office to mail a
general election ballot to all active voters on the statewide voter checklist
for a general election.
• Sec. 8 adds a process to address the situation where a voter has transferred
the voter’s registration from one town or city to another in the State
following the mailing of ballots for a general election or where a voter has
registered for the first time in Vermont after the Secretary of State’s office
has generated the mailing address file for a general election.
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• Sec. 9 removes the instructions to be sent with ballots from statute and
instead requires the instructions be in a form prescribed by the Secretary
of State’s office.
• Sec. 10 adds language to acknowledge the addition of a ballot curing
process and the use of secure ballot drop boxes. This section also adds
restrictions on candidates’ and paid campaign staff members’ ability to
return ballots and adds a limit on the number of ballots one individual may
return (25 ballots unless performing duties as a justice of the peace).
• Sec. 11 adds provisions allowing the use of secure ballot drop boxes,
provided the drop boxes meet statutory requirements for location and
installation.
• Sec. 12 repeals ballot processing language that is inconsistent with or
redundant to the changes made by this act.
• Sec. 13 amends the town clerks’ process for receiving ballots so the clerks
can determine whether a ballot has been deemed defective and, if so,
provide notice to the voter so the voter may cure the defect.
• Sec. 14 clarifies notice provisions for the deposit of ballots, removes the
detailed process steps for conducting the processing of early ballots, and
instead states that the Secretary of State’s office shall issue detailed
procedures for conducting the processing of early ballots into the vote
tabulator or ballot box.
• Sec. 15 adds references to the use of secure ballot drop boxes and the town
clerks’ use of the online election management system.
• Sec. 16 adds provisions outlining how a voter may cure a defective ballot.
• Sec. 17 clarifies the process for a voter who has been issued an early
absentee ballot but comes to the polls to vote instead (either with or
without the absentee ballot).
• Secs. 18 and 19 add references to the process outlined in Sec. 17 regarding
a voter bringing a marked ballot enclosed in the signed certificate
envelope.
• Sec. 20 requires the Secretary of State’s office to provide
recommendations to the Senate and House Committees on Government
Operations on the best practices for increasing access to voting for non-
English-speaking Vermonters and Vermonters with limited English
proficiency.
• Sec. 21a requires the Secretary of State’s office to provide findings and
recommendation to the Senate and House Committees on Government
Operations on issues relating to expanding vote by mail and
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recommendations on implementing a voter verification system in
Vermont.
• Sec. 22 codifies some of the processes the Secretary of State’s office is
using to maintain the accuracy of the statewide voter checklist.
• Sec. 22a makes an appropriation to the Secretary of State’s office for
$800,000.00 for one-time expenses related to beginning universal vote by
mail for the general election in 2022.
Effective Date: June 7, 2021
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Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 17-2543, 17-2547
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 17-2543, 17-2547, 17-2361, 17-2502, 17-2680, 17-2532, 17-2536, 17-2537, 17-2539, 17-2540, 17-2546, 17-2546a, 17-2546b, 17-2548, 17-2565, 17-2566
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 17-2361, 17-2502, 17-2680, 17-2532, 17-2536, 17-2537, 17-2539, 17-2540, 17-2543, 17-2546, 17-2546a, 17-2546b, 17-2547, 17-2548, 17-2565, 17-2566
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 17-2543, 17-2547, 17-2361, 17-2502, 17-2680, 17-2532, 17-2536, 17-2537, 17-2539, 17-2540, 17-2546, 17-2546a, 17-2546b, 17-2548, 17-2565, 17-2566, 17-2154
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 17-2361, 17-2502, 17-2680, 17-2532, 17-2536, 17-2537, 17-2539, 17-2540, 17-2543, 17-2546, 17-2546a, 17-2546b, 17-2547, 17-2548, 17-2565, 17-2566, 17-2154
As Enacted: 17-2361, 17-2502, 17-2680, 17-2532, 17-2536, 17-2537, 17-2539, 17-2540, 17-2543, 17-2546, 17-2546a, 17-2546b, 17-2547, 17-2548, 17-2565, 17-2566, 17-2154