07/22/2026
The Primary Election is already less than three weeks away – on Tuesday, August 11th! Do you have a voting plan?
A bunch of municipalities open their polls at 7am, but some open later in the morning – especially smaller towns. By 10am all polls in the state will be open. All polls in Vermont close by 7pm.
If you’ve never voted in a primary before here in Vermont, it’s a bit different than the general election, but poll workers will undoubtedly help you out with the process. Unlike in the general where there’s just one ballot, in Vermont primary elections, we have three – one for each of our major parties. You can choose any of the ballots. Vermont is one of 19 states where you do not have to register with a party - you can choose the party you vote in each primary election. Cool, right?
If you will not be able to vote at your polling place on August 11th there are a few things you can do to make sure your voice is heard. Unlike the general election in November, you won’t be mailed a ballot automatically. You need to request one from your town or city clerk. You can do this in just a few clicks through the Vermont Voter Portal. Once it arrives, in the envelope will be all the ballots and a couple of envelopes. Follow the instructions carefully and only fill out one of the ballots and return them via the USPS or at your polling place’s drop box. This post has many examples of what those look like across the state.
The USPS is not as reliable as it once was, so the best way to guarantee your early vote is counted is by voting in-person before the election at your town or city clerk, or dropping off your absentee ballot in the drop box or directly to your clerk’s office. ’s office recommends requesting a mailed absentee ballot as soon as possible, and certainly before July 31 to be safe.
Thanks for voting!
