How to Take Out a Petition to Get Your Name on the Ballot

View this guide as a PDF.

This guide explains the steps for getting your name on the ballot for local and some statewide elections in Brattleboro, Vermont.

There are three elections when local candidates need to take out a petition with the Town Clerk to get their name on the ballot: Town Meeting in March, Representatives to the State Legislature in August, and Justices of the Peace in November.

The petition process is similar. The major difference being the number of signatures needed on the petition.

Petition Requirements

March Election

Petitions for the March election are issued by the Town Clerk’s Office. Petitions are available at the Town Clerk’s office in December and must be submitted in January. The exact deadline date is printed on the petition or consent form.

Town Officer and School Board Petitions

Requires 30 signatures of registered voters in Brattleboro.
Consent form is required as well.

Representative Town Meeting Member Petitions

Requires 10 signatures of registered voters in the candidate’s district.
Incumbent members can get their name on the ballot by signing the letter of intent, which is sent January, and returning the hard copy to the Town Clerk’s Office by the deadline.

August & November Elections

Petition forms are available on the Vermont Secretary of State’s website, sos.vermont.gov. The exact deadline date is printed on the petition or consent form.

State Representatives

Requires 50 signatures of registered voters in the candidate’s district.
Petitions must be submitted in May or June. The exact deadline date is printed on the petition.
Consent form and Financial Disclosure forms are required as well.

Independent Justices of the Peace
Justices of the Peace can get their names on the November ballot through:

party nomination at a local major party caucus held between April and August.
submitting a petition for independent candidates to the Town Clerk between April and August – this requires 30 signatures of voters in Brattleboro.

Submission Tips

Obtain more signatures than required to account for potential invalid signatures.
Submit petitions before the deadline if possible, as grace periods are limited.
Ask people signing to write legibly, and confirm that they are registered voters in your district.
All signatures must be original. Petitions and letters of intent cannot be scanned and emailed to the Town Clerk’s Office.

Key Dates & Deadlines

March Election (Town Meeting)

Town Meeting Day: First Tuesday in March.
Representative Town Meeting: Third Saturday after the election.
Petition Deadline: January.

August State Primary

Petition Deadline: May or June (exact date varies each year).

November Election

Petition Deadline: August.

Information Needed for Petitions (Any Seat)

Candidates must provide the following to the Town Clerk:

Legal name as registered to vote.
Physical and mailing addresses.
Desired office or position.
Term length (if applicable).
Telephone number and email address.
Preferred name for the ballot (for instance, William who goes by Bill could have his name appear as William “Bill” Lastname on the ballot). Slogans or positions are not allowed.

It is preferred that the candidates themselves take out the petition, particularly for town officer positions. The candidate will have to sign a separate consent form to have their name on the ballot. Representatives Town Meeting Members sign that consent on the petition itself.

Offices Elected by Ballot & Terms

March Election

Town Offices

Selectboard: Two one-year seats and one three-year seat.
Moderator: One-year term.
Lister: Three-year term.
Constables: Two one-year terms.
Trustee of Public Funds: One three-year term.

Representative Town Meeting Members

At least 14 members per district, with three-year terms (number of seats vary by district and by year).
Partial terms may be available due to vacancies.
Districts are reapportioned every 10 years based on population.

Other Considerations

Candidate Responsibilities

Contact information will be public.
Candidates must sign a separate consent form to appear on the ballot (RTM Members sign on the petition).

Multiple Seats

Candidates can take out petitions for multiple seats. If they run for multiple seats, they may need to resign from one if elected to more than one position.

Selectboard Members

Take office after RTM.
An organizational meeting is held on the Monday following RTM to swear in newly elected members and to elect the Chair, Vice Chair, and Clerk.

School Board Members

Take office after Annual School Meeting in March (third Tuesday in March).
Details for oaths and organizational meeting come from school.

Other Officers Elected in March

Take office immediately after election.
May require an oath of office before beginning duties.

For further questions, contact the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office or consult the Vermont Secretary of State’s website.