Vermont primary voters face Aug. 11 deadline as final voting and filing dates near

Vermont’s statewide primary is Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, and several deadlines arrive this week for candidates and voters. Early and absentee voting is available by request, while the Democratic contest for governor is the leading statewide race drawing attention before a summer election that could have a low turnout.

The primary is not the general election. It will determine major-party nominees for offices on the Nov. 3 general-election ballot, while independent, minor-party and certain write-in candidates have separate filing requirements.

Three dates Vermont voters and candidates should know

• Thursday, Aug. 6, by 5 p.m.: Independent candidates for statewide office and the General Assembly must file petition and consent forms to appear on the November general-election ballot. Minor-party candidates must file their party nomination and consent forms by the same deadline. Certain write-in candidates for the primary must file an affirmation by 5 p.m. if they want their votes listed next to their names in the results.
• Monday, Aug. 10: Voters may request an early or absentee ballot until 5 p.m. or until their town clerk’s office closes, whichever applies locally. If the clerk has no office hours that day, the request may be filed until the office closes on its last day of business before the election.
• Tuesday, Aug. 11: Polling places may open between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m, according to the time set by local election officials. Every polling place must close at 7 p.m.

The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

How Vermont’s primary ballot works

Vermont does not register voters by political party. The state’s three major parties are the Republican, Democratic and Progressive parties. Voters may choose one of those party ballots, and the state does not keep a record of which party ballot a voter selects.

Voters casting ballots in person should complete only one party ballot and discard or return the other two as directed by election officials. Voters casting ballots by mail receive instructions for returning the voted ballot and the unused ballots in the appropriate envelopes. Failing to return the unvoted primary ballots can make a mailed ballot defective.

Minor parties do not hold the state’s primary. They select candidates through party procedures and must meet the applicable filing requirements for the November general election.

Early voting, absentee ballots and registration

Primary ballots are not automatically mailed to every registered Vermont voter. Residents must request an early or absentee ballot through their town clerk or the state’s voter portal. Ballots may be voted in person at the clerk’s office or returned by mail, to a secure town drop box where available, to the clerk’s office or by hand to the presiding officer at the voter’s polling place.

For a ballot to be counted, it must reach election officials by the applicable deadline. A mailed ballot may arrive at the clerk’s office by the close of the polls on Election Day, but voters should allow enough time for delivery.

Residents can use the Vermont Voter Portal to register, check registration status and find their polling place. Vermont also allows same-day voter registration, so an eligible resident who is not registered may register at the local polling place on Aug. 11.

Democratic governor’s primary is the leading statewide contest

The Democratic primary for governor features Aly Richards and Amanda Janoo. Richards is the former chief executive of Let’s Grow Kids and has emphasized her role in organizing support for Vermont’s 2023 child-care law. Janoo, an economist with international experience, is presenting herself as an outsider focused on structural economic change.

Vermont Public reported that Richards has highlighted housing, health care, education and the cost of living, while Janoo has proposed publicly funded universal primary care financed through higher income taxes. Those are campaign proposals, not enacted state policy.

Vermont Public also reported that a recent University of New Hampshire poll found many voters, including likely Democratic primary voters, were unfamiliar with both candidates. That polling describes voter awareness at the time of the survey; it does not predict the election result.

Check the full official ballot

The governor’s race is the most prominent statewide contest, but voters should review the official ballot for other federal, statewide, legislative and local races in their district. Candidate names and contests can vary by jurisdiction, so residents should use the Secretary of State’s final qualified-candidate file and voter portal before voting.

Town clerks will enter unofficial results on election night. Official returns are due within 48 hours, followed by canvassing and certification procedures.

For Vermonters deciding how to participate, the immediate dates are Aug. 6 for certain candidate filings, Aug. 10 for early or absentee-ballot requests and Aug. 11 for in-person voting.

Sources

• 2026 Vermont Elections Calendar
• What to know about Vermont’s primary election

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