VermontVermont act sets voter protections and changes campaign disclosure rules
Starting June 8, 2026, Vermont’s voter protections act addresses interference with voters, voting discrimination, checklist requests, and late candidate disclosures.
What it does
Interfering with voters or election workers is a crime.
State and local governments may not apply voting rules in ways that deny or limit citizens’ voting rights based on race, color, language-minority status, or disability. The Attorney General may bring a civil case over a violation.
People requesting copies of municipal voter checklists must swear or affirm that they will not use the information in a way that breaks the law.
Through May 30, 2027, covered candidates who file financial disclosures late face no enforcement or penalties. The Ethics Commission must provide information and answer their questions.
The Ethics Commission and Secretary of State’s Office must recommend how to manage candidate disclosure forms. The act summary also describes campaign finance definitions that include certain candidate security costs and political groups’ election activity.
Argument forVoters facing discrimination or interference may get stronger protection, and the Attorney General can bring a civil case over voting rights violations.
Argument againstCandidates who miss disclosure deadlines may face no penalties during the temporary pause, which could weaken timely reporting.
More detail
Interfering with voters or election workers is a crime. The offense concerns interference with voters and election officials. The act takes effect June 8, 2026.
State and local governments may not use voting rules in a way that denies or limits voting rights on specified grounds. The rule covers state and municipal voting qualifications, requirements, standards, practices, and procedures when they deny or limit a citizen’s right to vote because of race, color, membership in a language minority group, or disability. The act takes effect June 8, 2026.
People requesting municipal voter checklist copies must promise under oath or affirmation not to use the information unlawfully. This applies to requests for a municipality’s part of the statewide voter checklist or any other municipal voter checklist. The act takes effect June 8, 2026.
The State Ethics Commission must help certain candidates with disclosure filings, while enforcement and penalties for late filing are paused. The late-filing pause applies to candidates for statewide office, legislative office, and some county offices. The pause covers candidates for statewide and legislative office and some county offices who file financial disclosures late. The Commission must provide information and answer candidates’ questions about the disclosures. The enforcement and penalty pause lasts through May 30, 2027. The act takes effect June 8, 2026.
The Ethics Commission and Secretary of State’s Office must recommend how to manage candidate disclosure forms, and the act summary describes updated campaign finance definitions. The spending definition includes costs for candidate security monitoring, protective details, and cybersecurity. The committee definition covers people or entities that accept contributions and spend money during a two-year general election cycle to support or oppose candidates, influence elections, or advocate on public questions. The act takes effect June 8, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott June 8, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 8, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 2, 2026To Governor
- May 22As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 22Title amended
- May 22House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 20Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 20Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 20, 2026
- May 19Rep. Waters Evans of Charlotte moved to postpone action until May 20, 2026, which was agreed to
- May 19Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 18Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 15Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment theretoMinor
- May 14House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator(s) CollamoreMinor
- May 14House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 14Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) CollamoreMinor
- May 14Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 13Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 12Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 8Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 7Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 6House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 5House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 5Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 1House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- Apr 30Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 30Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 29Third Reading orderedMinor
- Apr 29Report of Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs agreed to
- Apr 29Rep. Waters Evans of Charlotte reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- Apr 29Read second timeMinor
- Apr 29Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 28Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 19Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military AffairsMinor
- Mar 17Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 17New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 13Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Ram Hinsdale
- Vote recorded 3rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 14 of 28 to Pass -- Yeas = 28, Nays = 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 133rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 14 of 28 to Pass -- Yeas = 28, Nays = 0
- Mar 13Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to
- Mar 13Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator White for Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Mar 13Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Mar 13New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Mar 12Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 23Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government OperationsIntroduced
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