Committee schedules Tuesday vote on H.78 to allow Australian ballot in local elections

The Committee on Government Operations said it will take a final vote Tuesday on House Bill H.78, which would permit use of the Australian ballot system in local elections and include a session law provision addressing timing conflicts.

Committee Chair, Committee on Government Operations, told the committee: "My plan is to hear the final testimony today on this. Take a vote on Tuesday, immediately bring it upstairs, and get it on the notice calendar for Wednesday." The chair said the Senate president pro tempore had assured him he would move to suspend rules so the bill could complete remaining stages and be messaged to the governor "forthwith."

Lauren Hibbert, deputy secretary of state, told the committee she appreciated the speed and said, "to my knowledge, nothing has changed on the perspective and the agreement, of the multitude of parties that came up with this solution, and I believe that we're just very grateful to the legislature for taking it up so promptly." Sean Sheehan, elections director at the Office of the Secretary of State, told the committee he agreed with Hibbert and that the bill "still seems like, the right solution, the best thing for towns." Josh Sanford of the League of Cities and Towns said the language was "perfect" and that towns had expressed appreciation for the fast timeline. Emma Scholtes of the Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association said clerks were "on board" and welcomed getting the bill in place ahead of town meeting so they can plan elections.

Committee members and witnesses discussed the bill's timing. A committee member asked about the warning timeline for town meetings; a witness indicated Feb. 2 was the date being advised for warnings. Committee members and witnesses also noted that the session law text in the bill addresses cases where towns might otherwise be caught "in limbo." No formal vote was taken at the hearing.

The committee chair said the panel would delay an immediate recorded vote over the coming weekend to give a final opportunity for comment, but expected the committee to vote Tuesday and move the bill to the calendar the following day. If approved by both chambers and messaged to the governor, the bill would be up to the executive branch to sign into law.

Next steps: the committee intends a final vote Tuesday; if passed there, sponsors plan to move the bill quickly through the Senate by suspending rules and then message it to the governor. The transcript contains no record of a committee motion, amendment, or roll-call vote at this meeting.