On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 8

WELCOME TO THE VOTING BOOTH
When you reach the age of 18, as a citizen of Vermont and the United
States you may vote in all federal, state, and local elections. You may also
run for any office except President, U.S. Senator, or U.S. Representative.
You have all the same rights and obligations as all adult citizens.
You must register to vote, but Vermont provides many options to make this
process as easy as possible. Unless you opt out, you will be automatically
registered to vote upon applying for a driver’s license. You may also
complete a voter registration form, available at the town clerk’s office in the
town where you reside. Alternatively, you may also register to vote by mail,
via the Vermont Secretary of State’s online voter registration system, or
the day of an election at your polling location. You may also register if you
are homeless. Applicants may apply to Vermont’s “Safe at Home”
program, which provides participants subject to domestic violence, sexual
abuse, or stalking with anonymity while registering. In Vermont, you need
register only once, and you may retain this voting status in your home
town, even if you go away to college, enlist in the armed services, or live
out of the country. If you change your permanent residence by moving
somewhere with an intent to remain there indefinitely, then you will have
to register to vote in the new town.
Vermont, unlike some states, does not require any political affiliation or
party registration in order to vote. Other than the presidential primary,
you are not required to tell anyone which party you favor in any election. In
the presidential primary, you must tell the ballot clerk which party’s ballot
you want, but that doesn’t mean you are a member of that party or will
support that party’s candidate in a later election. Additionally, you will
not be required to show identification at the polling station unless you
registered by mail. If you wish, you may choose to only vote in some of
the races.
There are four types of elections in Vermont. First, there are local elections.
Town meetings are held every year in every town and city in Vermont. You
should attend. This unique form of government is a fundamental part of
Vermont’s tradition of direct democracy and community. Town meeting
is where your town sets its property taxes for the year and elects local
officers like select board members, the town clerk, and others. It may be
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