Presidential Primary Election 101
What many people like about Vermont is that voters do not have to register with a specific political party. In State and Federal Primaries, voters may vote for whatever party they choose.
During the State Primary in August, voters receive ALL available party ballots but may only vote on ONE party’s ballot (discarding unvoted ballots when checking out).
However, during the Presidential Primary in March, voters are required, by State Statute, to CHOOSE the party’s ballot they would like to vote on when they check in at the entrance, receiving only that ballot.
Statute 17 V.S.A. § 2704 reads, “A person voting at the Primary shall be required to ask for the ballot of the party in which the voter wishes to vote and an election official shall record the voter's choice of ballot by marking the entrance checklist with a letter code, as designated by the secretary of state, to indicate the voter's party choice. The names of all candidates on the ballot shall be listed in alphabetical order. Each voter may vote for one candidate for the presidential nomination of one party, either by placing a mark opposite the printed name of a candidate as in other primaries, or by writing in the name of the candidate of the voter's choice. (Added 1979, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 6, 1980; amended 1995, No. 38, § 4; 2003, No. 59, § 43.)”
What many people don't like is ONLY being allowed to vote for one party at the Primaries. People like to mix 'n' match their candidate picks. Voters should rest assured that they may mix 'n' match party selections at the November General Election when there is one ballot for all parties.
Have other questions about local elections? The Town Clerk's Office has published a handy Voting FAQ. View that here.