Op-Ed: Keeping democracy alive in Vermont

March 10, 2026  |  By John Bossange

Vermonters have a long tradition of participating in our local March town hall meeting process, whether it’s a vote by those in attendance at a town hall, or by an Australian ballot. Vermont’s percentages of voting in national elections and other November ballot issues are among the highest of any state in America.

In 2024, 71% of eligible voters went to the polls. However, when it comes to our local elections held in March, our voting percentages are dramatically lower. This is not a healthy sign of democracy practiced at a local level.

A quick look at the Secretary of State’s website for 2025 illustrates this concerning pattern. All across our state, the percentages of Vermonters who voted annually in March have struggled to get above 20%. In fact, most small village floor votes range from 3% to 10% of all eligible voters in that village or town. In communities that allowed residents to vote earlier or used the Australian ballot system, percentages were closer to 20%, generally two times higher than those using the traditional town meeting process.

This year, in my town of South Burlington, 20.03% voted, and in nearby Burlington, 30.29% voted. Interestingly, in East Montpelier, where ballots were mailed to all residents before March 3, close to 40% of those residents voted! 

However, the March elections for this year will most likely mirror the disturbing trend of very low voter turnout in most local towns, villages and cities. In those communities that reached 20% that is not a success story, and is not a good sign that Vermonters value their privilege and responsibility to engage in the local democratic process.

It’s not that Vermonters don’t care about what impacts them directly.  There is great passion and endless discussion about taxes, bonds, capital projects, public safety, schools, housing, infrastructure, etc. We also talk with our neighbors about electing our local political leaders, including select board and school board members, mayors, commissioners and other local elected positions of influence.

For some reason in March, we forget that voting is our right and responsibility, and if you don’t vote, someone else will. And they might end up deciding for you the laws that will affect your family and community.  Everyone should be involved in deciding how our taxes will be spent and how to share that tax burden. Our local votes directly impact policies and budgets that will affect how well prepared our children will be for their future. Law enforcement, crime prevention, traffic patterns, housing developments, parks, recreational areas and open, natural conserved areas are all topics that affect the quality of our lives and reasons to vote.

We vote to have a voice in decision-making, to influence policies and laws, to hold our leaders accountable, to reflect the will of the people, and to foster civic engagement. By exercising our right to vote, we are strengthening democracy and ensuring that everyone has a chance to be heard.

We need to look in a mirror and ask ourselves why close to 80% of us did not vote again this March. That’s shocking and an embarrassment for a state that prides itself in local control, self-reliance, and good old-fashioned Yankee independence. There is no excuse for 80% of “no-shows.” That’s not an example of democracy in action; it’s democracy at risk.

It’s so easy to vote in our state. There are no long lines, voter ID requirements, and other voter suppression tactics seen in too many other states. Best of all, you can go to your town Clerk’s office up to 45 days before the first Tuesday in March and vote in person early, or you can request an absentee ballot to take home and drop off at an official location or simply mail in.

If you are registering to vote for the first time, you can do so on Election Day or during the early voting window. All you need is a valid ID, and any document that shows your address such as a utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck. It’s that simple.

We are out of excuses. Voter apathy invites unqualified candidates to run unchallenged, as well as people who run and do not have the best interests in mind for our communities. Single-issue candidates with no broad-minded thinking can also dominate local March elections and easily and negatively impact issues closest to home.

Let’s commit to making our 20% turnout in future March elections closer to our 71% turnout in November elections. Given the importance of our village, town, and city issues, and the direct impact they have on our daily lives, the sense of importance should be evident. No more excuses. It’s time to keep democracy alive in Vermont!

John Bossange lives in South Burlington. 

See turnout data for Waterbury on Town Meeting Day, 2013-2026 here. Also, see turnout details for Waterbury and neighboring communities in the Harwood school district over the past three years here.