Vermont Early Vote Count Tops 150,000 as Election Day Approaches

More than 150,000 Vermonters have already cast their ballots under the state's early and absentee voting rules. This volume means a large portion of the electorate will not need to visit a polling place on Election Day. Voters who have not yet cast a ballot can still use secure drop boxes in their voting districts, though it is too late to mail ballots in.

The current voting structure stems from changes made during the 2020 pandemic. Vermont began mailing ballots to all registered voters, a practice that shifted the state away from its previous norms. Before 2020, fewer than one-third of ballots were returned early, with rates of 30% in 2016 and 26% in 2018. The universal mail-in system dramatically increased early participation.

In 2020, early voting surged to 76% as residents sought to avoid public gatherings. The rate settled to 66% in 2022 and declined slightly to 64% in 2024. Despite these recent decreases, the early voting rate remains more than double what it was before the implementation of universal mailed ballots. Data from Monday morning suggests the early voting trend may continue to dip.

Voters who have not yet voted have two remaining options. They can place their mailed ballot in a designated drop box in their town or city clerk's office. Alternatively, they can vote in person at their local polling place on Tuesday. Residents are advised to bring the ballot mailed to them, although those who did not receive one or forget it can still cast a vote in person.