Town Meeting & Local Elections

We hope this compilation of publications and other resources will help both local officials and members of the public as they strive to understand and improve their municipalities. Return to the A to Z search and index page to peruse more topics.

Please remember that the laws governing municipalities and local governments are ever changing. We always recommend noting the date of the document, taking a look at the relevant statutes, and, if possible, checking in with the organization that produced the document. As always, requests for legal advice and legal opinions should be directed to a private attorney.

Town Meeting & Local Elections

Secretary of State Resources:

• A Handbook for Vermont Moderators (2009)
• A Citizen’s Guide to Vermont Town Meetings
• Getting on the Ballot: A Practical Guide for Social Service Agencies (2001)
• Town meeting and local elections
• Local petitions
• Municipal charter changes
• Municipal charter proposals

Additional Contacts & Resources:

• Town Meeting resources and model language for local officials (Vermont League of Cities & Towns)
• Vermont Institute for Government
• How and Why to Read a Town Report (2020)
• It’s Your Turn: A Call to Public Office (2020)
• Robert’s Rules for Town Meeting (2020)
• The Meeting Will Come to Order: A Voter’s Guide to Vermont Town Meeting Procedure (2020)