School boards and clerks clash over commingling ballots in multi‑town districts; committee hears arguments from both sides

The Senate Committee on Government Operations on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, heard extended testimony on whether ballots in union and unified school districts should be commingled — counted and reported as a single district result — or returned and reported separately by member towns.

The discussion matters because commingling affects how voters perceive school governance, can change the political dynamics around school budgets and places operational burdens on town clerks. Witnesses from the Vermont School Boards Association and district leaders urged preserving commingling to promote district unity; several town clerks and the clerk for Westbrook argued voters and clerks want the option to see municipal‑level results and to avoid the operational strain that commingling creates.

Sue Cyglowski, executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, summarized the policy position: “Commingling of votes…