State state mandated deadlines leading up to the Town Meeting
WINDHAM TOWN MEETING DAY MOVED TO SATURDAY, MAY 20 at 10AM
ELECTION DEADLINES FOR MAY 20, 2023 WINDHAM TOWN MEETING
APRIL 3 – Clerks and Voters- Last day for voters to file a petition with the town clerk to have an article appear on the ballot. 17 V.S.A. 2642(a)(3)(A) (47 days prior to town meeting). Petition must contain signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in the municipality. (47 days prior)
APRIL 4 – Clerks- If petitions turned in do not conform to statute, clerks must notify the petitioners in writing within 24 hours of why the petition does not conform. Petitioners must return supplementary petitions within 48 hours of being notified by the clerk. 17 V.S.A. 2642(a)(3)(A). (46 days prior)
APRIL 10 – BCA- Last day to designate polling places for town meeting day (40 days prior to the warning). 17 VSA 2501(a). (40 days prior)
APRIL 10 – Clerks- First day a clerk may post warnings for town meeting (40 days prior to the election). The warning shall also be posted on the municipality’s website if it is regularly updated. 17 V.S.A. 2641(a). (40 days prior)
APRIL 20 – Clerks- Last day that the warning and notice for town meeting may be posted (30 days before the election). The warning shall also be posted on the municipality’s website if it is regularly updated. 17 V.S.A. 2521(a) and 2641(a). (30 days prior)
APRIL 20 – Clerks- Checklist must be posted in two or more public places in the town in addition to being posted at the town clerk’s office in towns with population over 5,000. In towns with a population of less than 5,000, the checklist must only be posted in one place in addition to the clerk’s office. 17 V.S.A. 2141, 2521(a). (30 days prior)
MAY 10 – Clerks and Auditors- Must distribute town meeting warning in annual town report (at least 10 days prior to town meeting) or other written form by this date to all postal patrons in the municipality to avoid publishing warning in newspaper (if publishing in the newspaper that must happen at least 5 days before town meeting). 24 V.S.A. 1682, 17 V.S.A. 2641(b). (10 days prior)
MAY 10 – Clerks- Last day to designate pairs of JPs to deliver ballots to ill or physically disabled voters (at least 3 days prior to the election). 17 V.S.A. 2538(a)(2). (10 days prior)
MAY 19 – BCA- At any time prior to the day of the election, the board of civil authority must appoint a sufficient number of registered voters to serve as assistant election officers for town meeting. 17 V.S.A. 2454 (1 day prior)
MAY 20 – TOWN MEETING IN-PERSON at the Meeting House (FLOOR VOTE – PAPER BALLOT CAN BE REQUESTED FOR ANY ARTICLE IF REQUESTED BY SEVEN VOTERS. ANY ARTICLE CAN BE AMENDED BY A MOTION THAT IS PASSED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS. TO BE ELECTED TO A TOWN POSITION, YOU MUST BE NOMINATED FROM THE FLOOR. THERE WILL BE NO BALLOT, SO YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO VOTE. CERTAIN OFFICIALS MUST BE VOTED FOR BY PAPER BALLOT; SELECTBOARD, LISTER & AUDITOR)
For more information on floor vote, go to the Vermont Secretary of State’s Elections website, Guide for Moderator’s, moderator guide 2009.qxp (vermont.gov) .