Vermont Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-in Deadlines

General Election: Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Vermont you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Vermont
• be 18 years of age on or before election day
• If you are registering to vote in Vermont for the first time, you must take the Voter’s Oath.   If you have previously voted in Vermont, you do not need to take the voter's oath again. 
• The Voter’s Oath: You solemnly swear (or affirm) that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the state of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person.

How to register to vote:

• Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.   For faster processing, you can send the form to your town or city clerk. 
• You can also download the Vermont Voter Registration Form, a.k.a. "Application for Addition to the Checklist." Mail or hand-deliver your completed voter registration form to your town or city clerk.

If you are registering for the first time in Vermont, you need to take the Voter’s Oath. The Voter's Oath can be administered by a town clerk, justice of the peace, notary public, or commissioned military officer; but it can now also be administered by any person over the age of 18, or you can administer it to yourself.  If you do not take oaths, you may take it as an affirmation instead.  Whoever administered the oath, or you (if you are attesting for yourself that you have taken the oath), must date and sign the attestation in the box on the application form.  You must be 18 years old to take the voter's oath.  If you are not yet 18, you can file your application without taking the oath and then take the oath at the polling place on Election Day. However, if you intend to request an early or absentee ballot, you must take the oath before voting by early or absentee ballot.

ID requirements for first time voters:

If you are registering for the first time in Vermont, and you register by mail, you must include a copy of your identification.  If you do not, you'll need to show ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable identification includes: a current and valid photo ID  that shows your name or a current bank statement, utility bill, or government document that contains your name and Vermont address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Voting by Absentee Ballot

Good news!  Any registered Vermont voter can vote by absentee ballot.

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

Download and complete the Vermont Request for Early or Absentee Ballot.  Mail your completed application to your town or city clerk.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to provide ID if you have already voted in Vermont at least once.  If you are a first time Vermont voter, and you did not include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, then you must include a copy with your absentee ballot application.  Acceptable identification includes a: a current and valid photo that shows your name ID or a current bank statement, utility bill, or government document that contains your name and Vermont address.

Absentee ballot instructions:

The ballot will be mailed to you with a return envelope so that the ballot, once voted, can be returned to the clerk and counted on Election Day.  Simply complete the ballot and mail it to your town or city clerk.  Your voted ballot must be received by 7pm on Election Day.

State Contact Information