The Vermont Senate has
overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to move the state’s primary elections to
early August. The early date was supported
by Secretary of State Jim Condos, who said he needed more time between the
primary and the general election to meet federal deadlines to get ballots to overseas
voters.
Members of the Vermont Tea Party say they plan to monitor some polling places
around Vermont on Election Day. But
the secretary of state’s office says state law doesn’t permit it.
The two major party candidates for Secretary of State – Republican
Jason Gibbs and Democrat Jim Condos – debate campaign finance, electronic voting, corporate and professional licensing and the other top issues.
Democrats have seized on a car crash by
Republican secretary of state candidate Jason Gibbs late last week. Gibbs say he was simply exhausted when he went off Vermont Route 100 near his
home in Duxbury at about 12:45 Friday morning.
Besides picking a host of elected officials this November, Vermont voters will also be asked to amend the state’s Constitution.
The
amendment would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turn 18 by Election
Day.
Vermont received an F in a survey on campaign finance disclosure. We look at why the state fared so poorly and what can be done to improve transparency in this area. Plus, we hear about a Catholic relic that has been in Vermont since the 1890s.
While thousands of Vermonters anxiously wait for official word, a small crew in
the secretary of state’s office is adding up the totals from this week’s
Democratic gubernatorial primary.