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    November 4, 2008 General Election About Waitsfield
    Waitsfield Government
    Waitsfield Elections

    Instructions for Voters Polling Place GuidelinesLinksContacts
    (Documents and outside links will open in a separate window)

    Sample Ballots
    General Election BallotSpecial Meeting: Water Bond BallotJustice of the Peace BallotHarwood Bond Ballot
    ** ELECTION RESULTS **

    WARNING -- VERMONT GENERAL ELECTION -- NOVEMBER 4, 2008

    A statewide Genearl Election will be held on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008 to vote for candidates for the following offices:

    U.S. President
    U.S. Representative
    Governor
    Lieutenant Governor
    State Treasurer
    Secretary of State
    Auditor of Accounts
    Attorney General
    State Senators
    State Representatives
    High Bailiff
    Justices of the Peace
    Register to Vote
    Applications must be received by Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 5:00 p.m., at the Town Office in order to be eligible to cast your ballot in this election.

    The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and will close at 7:00 p.m.  The polling place is located at the Waitsfield Elementary School.

    CHECKLIST: posted at town clerk's office by October 5, 2008.  If your name is not on it, then you must register to vote.

    SAMPLE BALLOTS POSTED: October 15, 2008.

    PARTY CHOICE: You don’t have to tell which party you favor, but you can only vote for candidates on one party ballot in the primary election. (There is no voter registration by party in Vermont.)

    EARLY or ABSENTEE BALLOTS: You can request early absentee ballots at any time during the election year.  The latest you can request ballots for the General Election is the close of the town clerk's office on November 3, 2008.  You or a family member can request early ballots in person, in writing or by telephone.  An authorized person can request ballots for you in writing.  Ways of voting early absentee in the 30 days before the election:
      1. Vote in town clerk's office before November 4, 2008.

      2. Voter may take the ballots out of the clerk's office for himself and return in same manner as if the ballots were received by mail.

      3. Have ballot mailed to you and return it to clerk's office before Election Day or to polling place before 7 p.m. on Election Day.

      4. If you are sick or disabled, you may ask the town clerk to have two justices of the peace bring a ballot to you at your home on any of the eight days preceding the day of the election or the day of election.
    IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR FIRST TIME REGISTRANTS BY MAIL: If you have never voted in Vermont before and you registered individually by mail, you must provide identification before you can vote a regular ballot: current valid photo I.D., or a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing your name and current address. If you do not provide I.D., you will be offered a provisional ballot.

    CASTING A PROVISIONAL BALLOT: If you accept the offer to vote a provisional ballot, you must complete a sworn affidavit on the provisional ballot envelope swearing that you are qualified to vote in Vermont and in the polling place where you are, and that you submitted an application to register to vote before the deadline.  You will be given a card explaining how you can find out if your ballot was counted one week after the election by calling the Vermont Secretary of State's Office at 1-800-439-8683.

    If your name was dropped from the checklist in error, or has not been added even though you submitted an application before the deadline for applications: Explain the situation to your town clerk or presiding officer and ask that your name be added to the checklist today.  The town clerk or presiding officer will investigate the situation and then either have you complete a sworn affidavit and then add your name to the checklist or explain why you cannot be added.

    I
    f the town clerk or presiding officer cannot determine that you are entitled to be added to the checklist on Election Day, you may appeal to a superior court judge, who will give you a decision on Election Day OR you may vote a provisional ballot.  It is your choice.  

    Any voter who wants assistance for any reason
    may bring the person of his or her choice into the voting booth to help or may ask for assistance from two election officials.

    Voters who cannot get from the car into the polling place may have a ballot brought to a car outside the polls by two election officials.

    Any U. S. citizen and resident of a Vermont town or city who submitted an application to register to vote before the deadline is entitled to vote regardless of race or physical ability.

    THE LAW PROHIBITS THE FOLLOWING--DO NOT:
      • Vote more than once per election, either in the same town or in different towns.

      • Mislead the board of civil authority about your own or another person's eligibility to vote.

      • Socialize in a manner that will disturb other voters inside the polling place.

      • Offer bribe, threaten, or intimidate a person to vote for a candidate.

      • Hinder or interfere with the progress of a voter going into or from a polling place.  Vermont law provides that a person cannot campaign within a polling place, but does NOT specify any number of feet that campaigners need to be away from the polls outside.  The Presiding Officer will set reasonable rules for where campaigners can stand.
    The Election Officials at the polling place are here to serve you.

    If you have any questions, or need assistance while voting, ask your town clerk or any election official for help.  

    If you do not understand something, or you believe a mistake has been made that has not been corrected, or you have a question that cannot be answered to your satisfaction at the polling place:

    Call the Elections Division, Office of the Secretary of State
    1-800-439-VOTE (439-8683)
    (Accessible by TDD)

    If you believe that any of your voting rights have been violated, you may call the Elections Division at 800-439-8683 or (802) 828-2464. You may also file an Administrative Complaint with the Secretary of State’s Office, 26 Terrace Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-1101.

    If you believe you have witnessed efforts to commit any kind of fraud or corruption in the voting process, you may report this to your local United States Attorney’s Office, the County State’s Attorney or the Vermont Attorney General.

    If you have witnessed actual or attempted acts of discrimination or intimidation in the voting process, you may report this to the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice at (800) 253-3931.

    VOTING PROCESS--INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTERS

    • Go to the entrance checklist table, give your name, and if asked, your street address to the election official in a loud voice.

    • Wait until your name is repeated and checked off by the official.

    • Take the ballot from the election official and enter a voting booth.  Once inside the voting booth, mark your ballot for each race.

    • To vote for a candidate, fill in the oval to the right of the name of the candidate(s) as directed on your ballot.  Do not vote for more candidates than the “Vote for not more than #” for each or office.  If you vote for more than the “Vote for not more than #,” your vote will not count for that race.

    • WRITE-IN candidate(s). To vote for someone whose name is not printed on the ballot, use the blank "write-in" line on the ballot and either write in the name or paste on a sticker, then fill in the oval.

    If you make a mistake or change your mind, DO NOT try to erase.  Return your spoiled ballot and ASK an election official for a new ballot.  If you make a mistake again, you may ask for another ballot and you may want to ask for assistance.  Each voter may have up to 3 ballots.

    • To cast your voted ballot: either insert your voted ballot into the tabulating machine, or in a hand count town, fold your voted ballot and insert it into the ballot box.

    • Go to the exit checklist table, if any, and state your name.  Wait until your name is repeated and checked off by the official.

    • Leave the voting area immediately by passing outside the guardrail.

    • All voters who are in line at the polling place at 7 p.m. will be permitted to vote.  No voter can enter the polling place to vote after 7 p.m.

    Links (Documents and outside links will open in a separate window)
    Secretary of State
  • Town Meeting and Local Elections
  • Citizen's Guide to Vermont Town Meeting
         
    Vermont League of Cities and Towns
  • What Is Town Meeting?
  • Advisory Town Meeting Articles (1 pg, 10 KB)
  • Role of the Moderator (1 pg, 45 KB)
  • Australian Ballot (1 pg, 6 KB)
    Other Links
  • Voter's Guide to Town Meeting Procedure (4 pgs, 20 KB)

    Contacts
    Jennifer Peterson, Town Clerk/Treasurer
    Waitsfield Town Office
    9 Bridge Street
    Waitsfield, VT 05673
    Phone: (802) 496-2218
    E-mail:
    Vermont Secretary of State
    Elections Division
    26 Terrace Street
    Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
    Phone: (800) 439-8683
    Web: http://vermont-elections.org/soshome.htm


    Updated November 4, 2008
    Waitsfield's Official Web Site

    Disclaimer
     Although the Town of Waitsfield strives for high quality, accuracy, and completeness in the content on its Web site, it does not warrant or make any guarantees as to the quality, content, accuracy, or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links, and other items associated with this site. Also, the Town will not be liable or responsible for damages of any kind arising from the use of online agendas, minutes, or other information offered on this Web site.   Please be aware that some documents, such as agendas and minutes, are subject to change after they have been posted. Official copies of municipal documents may be obtained from the Waitsfield Town Office, 9 Bridge Street, Waitsfield, VT 05673.
    Please send comments to: webmeister@waitsfieldvt.us
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