Vermont Absentee Voter Guide

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

Important Deadlines

• Voter Registration: Received by 5pm on the Wednesday before an election
• Absentee ballot application: Received by the day before an election
• Voted absentee ballot: Received by close of polls (7pm) on Election Day

How to vote by absentee ballot

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.

NOTE: 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.

Verify your voter registration

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.

Apply for your absentee ballot

Good news!  Any registered Vermont voter can vote by absentee ballot. (NOTE: Vermont calls absentee ballots early voter ballots).   A ballot can be requested any time before an election.

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

Receive, complete, and return your absentee ballot

Clerks will mail absentee ballots within the 45 days prior to the election. This ballot will arrive with a return envelope so that the ballot, once voted, can be returned to the clerk so that it can be counted on Election Day.  The clerk must receive the ballot by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted. You can also return your voted ballot to the polling place by the close of polls on Election Day.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need to provide ID when I apply for my absentee ballot?

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.

Can I register to vote and request my absentee ballot at the same time?

Yes, you can put your voter registration form and your early voter ballot application in the same envelope and return both to your town or city clerk.  If you do this, both forms must be received by the voter registration deadline (5pm on the Wednesday before the election).

I won't be able to go to the polls on election day but don't want to vote by mail.  Can I vote in person before the election?

YES! A voter may vote at the town or city clerk's office in person any time forty-five days before a primary or general election or 20 days before a municipal election. 

Additional Information