Secretary Condos Applauds Legislature for Expanding Voter Access by Passing S.15

May 18 2021

Montpelier, VT – Following the Vermont Senate’s final passage of S.15, which will make the mailing of ballots to all Vermont voters a permanent feature of general elections, Secretary of State Jim Condos issued the following statement applauding members of the Legislature for this monumental expansion of voter access.

“If enacted, S.15 will be the largest expansion of Vermont voter access in decades.

While state legislatures across the country are using conspiracy theories and outright lies as justification for restricting the Constitutional rights of their citizens, Vermont is poised to become one of the most voter friendly states in the country with the passage of S.15.

We should be proud of our brave state. While others are working to make it harder to vote, in Vermont we are working to remove barriers to the ballot box for all eligible voters, while strengthening the security and integrity of the voting process.

I want to thank the legislative leaders who worked hard on this critical legislation, including Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint and Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, and extend a special thank you to the Chairs of the Government Operations Committees, Senator Jeanette White and Representative Sarah Copeland Hanzas, who worked incredibly hard with their committees to craft this landmark bill.

I also want to recognize Vermont’s hardworking Town and City Clerks, who keep the front door open to democracy for Vermonters. Their input shaped this legislation, and their hard work ensures that Vermont elections are secure, accurate and accessible.

I firmly believe that our democracy is stronger when we all vote. Your vote is your voice, and S.15 will make using that voice even more accessible for all Vermonters.”

S.15 was passed with strong support from Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, and independents. In addition to the mailing of ballots to all active registered voters, S.15 contains other important voter provisions, including new pathways for voters to cure defective ballots if they make a mistake on their ballot return, as well as a requirement to study and report back on further improvements to access, including expanding mail voting to primaries and local elections.

The bill does not remove any existing voting options, including voting at the polls on Election Day, but provides voters with new methods of receiving and casting their ballots.

The Secretary of State’s office mailed ballots to all voters for the 2020 General Election due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Vermont voters embraced voting by mail, shattering prior records for total turnout and early voting.

Today, Secretary Condos issued an op-ed detailing the existing or newly created security measures in place that protect the integrity of Vermont elections, which can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.