Seán Sheehan Joins the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office as Director of Elections

May 13 2024

Montpelier, VT – Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced that Seán Sheehan joins her office this week as the new Director of Elections and Campaign Finance. Having worked for the State of Vermont for twelve years, most recently as the Director of Performance Improvement in the Agency of Human Services, Sheehan will now play an important role in overseeing the critical mission of administering elections in Vermont.

“I am very excited to welcome Seán, whose arrival means that our Elections team is officially fully staffed, just in time for the 2024 election cycle,” said Copeland Hanzas. “The administration of free, fair, and accessible elections is foundational to our democracy. We are so happy to have Seán at the helm to help us with this essential work.”

The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office protects the integrity of campaigning and elections in Vermont. It administers Vermont’s elections, oversees campaign finance reporting and lobbyist disclosure laws, and encourages civic participation.

Sheehan previously served in multiple roles with the Department of Vermont Health Access, as well as Staff Director for the Vermont Tax Structure Commission. Prior to joining state service, Sheehan directed projects at the Vermont Council on Rural Development and the Center for a New American Dream. He lives in Montpelier with his wife and two children.

"I am excited to join this small but mighty team,” said Sheehan. “The Secretary of State’s office – together with town clerks and other partners across the state – have made Vermont a national leader in election administration. And yet, the challenges continue to evolve, so we must as well. I look forward to working with the team to keep Vermont on the leading edge of active and engaged democracy.”