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Vermont Secretary of State asks legislature for $1.1 million to backfill election-security shortfall, expands support for local civic media
Summary
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanses told the House Appropriations Committee the office faces a $728,000 shortfall after federal election grants fell sharply and asked for $1.1 million in FY27 general-fund support (450,000 ongoing, 650,000 backfill). The office also urged expanded funding for local democracy-media grants.
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanses and Deputy Lauren Hibbert told the House Appropriations Committee that federal election-security funding to Vermont has declined sharply and that the office needs $1.1 million in FY27 general-fund support to maintain core election functions.
"We are requesting 1,100,000.0," Hibbert said, describing the request as 450,000 in ongoing general-fund support and 650,000 to backfill a gap created by reductions in Help America Vote Act and related federal grants. The office estimates a revenue gap of about 728,000 tied to federal cuts and said it cannot rely on grant funding at prior levels.
Why it matt…
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