Bill > S0298

This bill, titled the Vermont Voting Rights Act, aims to strengthen voting protections by explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group, and it will also prevent local racial gerrymandering, which is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to disenfranchise or dilute the voting power of a particular racial group. The legislation introduces language assistance for voters who are limited English proficient, meaning they do not speak English as their primary language and have difficulty understanding or speaking English. It also establishes specific voting assistance methods for individuals over 65 and those with disabilities. To ensure fairness in election administration, the bill prohibits any changes to municipal electoral districts or systems within 60 days before a general election and creates a "pre-clearance" system, requiring municipalities to obtain authorization from the Attorney General's office before implementing such changes, ensuring they do not negatively impact protected classes. Furthermore, it restricts "at-large" districts, where all voters in a municipality elect all representatives, if these districts hinder a protected class's ability to elect candidates of their choice or influence election outcomes. The bill also establishes a Voter Education and Outreach Fund to support voter education initiatives and criminalizes voter intimidation, the spread of false information to registered voters intended to impede their voting, and interference with the voting process. Finally, it proposes to count certain incarcerated individuals by their residential address prior to incarceration for the purpose of reapportioning legislative districts, ensuring that their home communities are represented rather than the location of the correctional facility.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.298