Waterbury on the cusp of Vermont early voting hot spots

August 7, 2026 | By Lisa Scagliotti

There’s just a short time left to cast an early ballot ahead of Vermont’s Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 11, and a check-in by the Secretary of State’s office found that Waterbury is among the towns and cities where early voting has been the most popular so far. 

The Secretary of State’s office on Thursday shared details from a survey of municipalities around the state to see how many Vermonters have taken the opportunity to vote early. It found that 3.1% of the state’s voters have already done so and some 55 municipalities reported turnout higher than that statewide. 

Shelburne topped the list with 10.1% of its voters turning in ballots already; it has just over 6,900 registered voters based on election results from Town Meeting Day in March. Calais and Barre Town also have had strong early voting, reporting 9.3% and 8.2% of their ballots already turned in, according to the survey. 

Waterbury reported turnout of 3.2% to the Secretary of State’s query. But at the end of the day Thursday, Town Clerk Wes Pollock said that 259 voters had requested early ballots and 165 had been returned already, for a turnout so far of 3.6% of the town’s 4,620 registered voters. 

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas pointed out that summertime can be busy, so early voting can make it more convenient for some voters to participate in the August primary. Early voting has been open since June 29. 

 “I want to thank Vermont’s town clerks, who are dedicated to the demanding, on-the-ground work of our democracy,” Copeland Hanzas said. “Thanks as well to all of the Vermonters who have taken advantage of the opportunity to make their voices heard so far in this primary election. And if you haven’t voted yet, we look forward to seeing you at the polls on August 11!” 

Waterbury voters can still visit the town office on Friday and Monday to request and mark a ballot or return an early ballot they already have received. No ballots will be accepted at the municipal office on Tuesday, which is Election Day. Anyone with a ballot to turn in may do so by bringing it to the polls at Brookside Primary School between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.  

Voting for the statewide primary is typically lower than general election turnout. In 2024, Vermont’s primary turnout statewide was just 15.26% of the 507,023 registered voters that year. Waterbury saw a particularly strong turnout of 31% (1,389 voters) in the 2024 primary given a three-way contest in the Democratic House primary race that year. Reps. Tom Stevens and Theresa Wood had a challenge from Waterbury candidate Elizabeth Brown. The incumbents both won the nomination and re-election in November that year. This year, Stevens is not on the ballot and Wood is joined by newcomer Katarina Lisaius from Bolton. No Republicans or Progressives are on those party ballots. 

General Election turnout in Vermont in 2024 – a presidential election year – was 71%. In 2022’s midterm election, turnout was 60%, according to the Secretary of State’s records. 

See more about the primary election here. Check out the online state voter portal here.