Voter Ed. with BORED

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Finn

7 months ago

Hey Cats! If you’re reading this, that means you are interested in voting in Vermont or your home state! Good job! That’s the necessary first step. The process of voting can seem a little confusing or downright intimidating, but we’re here to make it as simple as can be with this guide to voting in the beautiful state of Vermont.

VOTING 101

A voting “plan” can be as thought-out as you want it to be!

  1. Figure out what state you’re voting “in”

    Do you qualify to vote in another state? Great! There are a lot of things to consider when Deciding Where to Vote. You can check Rock the Vote for info on registration, deadlines, and absentee ballots in all 50 states to help inform your decision.

  2. Register to vote!

    If you don’t know your registration status, you can check it with TurboVote. (See below for Vermont-specific registration). You can google how to register with your local/state government, or you can register with TurboVote.

  3. Request to vote by mail if you cannot vote in person*

    *Eligibility varies by state.* Get help voting by mail with TurboVote. And check vote-by-mail qualifications by state.

  4. Vote!

    If you’re like us, you’ll want to know what’s on your ballot. You can check for a sample ballot at Vote.Org (not an official ballot) or contact your local elections office directly.

VOTER REGISTRATION IN VT

an American passport on top on a voter registration form

If you have already registered to vote in the past, you can search Burlington’s Voter Checklist to confirm that you are registered. If you have not registered, there are a few ways you can go about doing so!

In-person: If you feel like registering in person, you can register at the Clerk Treasurer’s Office until the Friday before the election. You can also wait to register until the day of the election at the polling place, but this will make your tip longer.

Online: If you’re a US Citizen, you can register from the comfort of your own home online. If you’re an out-of-state student, you can still register! For some reason, I had convinced myself that because I was from another state, I couldn’t vote here. That is 100% not the case! You will just have to click the box that states you don’t have a Vermont ID and go through a couple of extra steps.

Mail: If you feel so inclined, you may mail in your registration as well. If you’re a US Citizen, fill out this form. For everyone from outside of the US, this is the form for you.

VOTING IN BURLINGTON

a man standing alone at a voting poll near a large brick wall

The Vermont Secretary of State Voter Page allows you to change your address, request an absentee ballot & check its status, and much more.

In-Person: Check your Ward and official polling location on Burlington’s interactive election map. Here are some more details on How to Vote.

Absentee: You can request an absentee ballot on your VT voter page or mail in this form. Vote411 has some great info on the absentee ballot process.

Have you heard of All Legal Resident Voting in Burlington and Winooski? This legislation grants someone who is not a U.S. citizen but is legally in the U.S. eligibility to vote in their respective municipal and school board elections. This legislation does not grant eligibility to vote in state or federal elections.

That’s all we can think of cats, but here are some more resources anyway…