Vermont’s Primary Election Season Heats Up – How You Can Vote and Who’s Running

MONTPELIER — 2022 is looking like a historic election year in Vermont as the primary election on Tuesday, August 9 approaches. Two of the state’s three members of Congress, four of its six executive officers and roughly a third of all members in both legislative chambers are leaving their posts this year. At the same time, legislative district lines in many regions, including Chittenden County, have been redrawn for the first time in a decade.

As required by the Constitution, Vermont goes through a redistricting process every 10 years, redrawing state lines based on the most recent population data from the U.S. Census. In March, the legislature passed a bill finalizing the changes, and Gov. Phil Scott signed it into law in April.

Major changes brought on by the reapportionment process, according to Seven Days, include: 16 Senate districts instead of 13, one more senator for Chittenden County (for a total of seven), shuffling of some voters into different House districts, and a new House district in southern Vermont that includes the Green Mountain towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, Stamford and Pownal.

Looking ahead to November, ballot questions addressing reproductive freedom and amending language around slavery will also be awaiting Vermont voters.

How to Register to Vote in Vermont

All U.S. citizens who will be 18 or older on November 8, 2022, are eligible to register to vote.

There are many ways to register to vote in Vermont! Register online at olvr.vermont.gov, by calling 1-800-439-VOTE, by visiting your city or town clerk’s office, by filling out a voter registration form anytime before Election Day or even at the polls.

Since 2016, all Vermont drivers eligible to vote have been automatically registered when getting or renewing a driver’s license.

It’s easy to check to see if you’re already on the state’s voter checklist – just enter your name and birthdate at olvr.vermont.gov.

Another great resource is the Vermont Secretary of State Election Information & Resources page, which lists important info like polling places and other handy details.

You can also log in and access a sample primary ballot at the My Ballot Page, and even print it out for reference to use when you go to your polling place.

How to Vote in the 2022 Vermont Primary Election

Vermont’s primary election takes place August 9. There are two ways to vote:

Who’s Running?

These Offices Are To Be Elected in 2022:

• U.S. Senate
• U.S. Representative
• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Treasurer
• Secretary of State
• Auditor of Accounts
• Attorney General
• All (30) State Senate seats
• All (150) State Representative seats
• Probate Judge
• Assistant Judge
• State’s Attorney
• Sheriff
• High Bailiff
• Justices of the Peace

These Constitutional Amendments will be Voted on November 8, 2022

First Question: To see if the voters will amend the Vermont Constitution by adding Article 22 to read:
“Article 22. [Personal reproductive liberty] That an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course and shall not be denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”

Second Question: To see if the voters will amend the Vermont Constitution by amending Article 1 of Chapter 1 to read:
“Article 1. [All persons born free; their natural rights; slavery and indentured servitude prohibited] That all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety; therefore no person born in this country, or brought from over sea, ought to be holden by law, to serve any person as a servant, slave or apprentice, after arriving to the age of twenty-one years, unless bound by the person’s own consent, after arriving to such age, or bound by law for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like slavery and indentured servitude in any form are prohibited.
* Italicized words indicate new language

Want to see more in-depth election guides? Check out VTDigger and Seven Days.

Races: US Senate and US House

In VTDigger’s Vermont 2022 election guide, the long-running digital news platform asked each of the major candidates in the US Senate and House races the question: Do you support the federal legalization of marijuana?

US Senate Candidates