Universal Mail-in Voting Becomes Law in Vermont
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed a bill into law on Monday that establishes universal mail-in voting for all future general elections in Vermont. The legislation, S. 15, was championed and advanced by the Democratic-majority Legislature this spring and codifies a pandemic-era expansion of mail-in voting in the state. Under the new law, every eligible voter in the state will be sent a ballot in October of a general election year; voters can return their ballots by mail, in person or at a drop box.
Although Scott is a Republican, he had previously indicated his support for this voting rights expansion in his majority-Democratic state. Upon signing the legislation, he appealed to the state Legislature to pass further reforms that would extend mail-in voting for primary and local elections as well.