vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

10.30.2009

When should we have primary?

As you read in today's Free Press, Vermont is faced with the prospect of having to change the date of the 2010 primary election.

Sept. 14 just isn't going to cut it. Congress just passed a law that says states have to send overseas absentee ballots out at least 45 days before the Nov. 2 general election, and there's not enough time to certify the primary, print the ballots and send them out under Vermont's current schedule.

So when would you like the election to be?

How's Aug. 24, as the Senate chose in a bill this year that hasn't passed the House?

Or Aug. 17, as the Secretary of State's Office proposed?

Or how about June? That one makes legislators nervous because they'd have to decide whether they're running and campaign during the legislative session. Could also make the session even messier politically than it's already going to be.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: primary election, vermont legislature, vermont politics

posted by vt.Buzz | 9:44 AM |

Comments:

How about March, town meeting day. It is early but its one less election day to have to run.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:20 AM, October 30, 2009

August 17 is too early - Vermonters are still in "summer" mode. A week later, when schools are starting up and people are turning their focus to the fall, would be a little bit better.

Or why not first week in September?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:05 PM, October 30, 2009

I think that democracy is more important than summer mode.

Primary day should be August 1st.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:30 AM, October 31, 2009

Given the many different ways one can cast a ballot these days, it really does not matter what the date of a primary is. What matters is that people actually spend the effort to vote!!

# Posted by:

Older is Better | 8:57 AM, November 01, 2009