Richmond voters back Australian ballots for budgets and charitable-appropriations votes

Richmond, Vt. — Voters at Richmond’s Nov. 9 special town meeting voted to move municipal budget measures and separate charitable-appropriation items to preprinted secret (Australian) ballot voting, a shift supporters said will broaden participation while opponents warned it would reduce in-person deliberation.

The meeting opened with procedural rules from the moderator and the reading of the official warning. Article 1 — "Shall the voters of Richmond adopt all budget articles by Australian ballot, preprinted secret paper ballot?" — drew more than an hour of discussion. Residents and former officials said they were torn between preserving the ritual and deliberation of town meeting and expanding access for people who cannot attend an early‑morning session.

Jeanne Anne Haskin, who urged a yes vote, argued that many of Richmond’s roughly 3,400 registered voters cannot attend in person and that Australian ballots would give “all 3,400 registered voters the opportunity to say yes or no on the budget.” Several speakers urged hybrid solutions (informational meetings or a Saturday advisory session) while saying they wanted broader participation.

Town Manager Josh explained the multi‑month budget process and said select board and staff efforts to hold outreach and budget meetings continue whether votes are held by voice or by Australian ballot. After calling the question, the moderator announced the standing count: the ayes outnumbered the noes and Article 1 passed (the moderator recorded the count in the meeting minutes).

Article 2 — whether charitable-appropriation items (the nonprofit appropriations that had previously been moved onto the warning as separate line items) should also be decided by Australian ballot — generated a separate debate about whether tax dollars should fund local nonprofits or whether such donations should be left to private giving. Supporters said the change reduces social pressure at town meeting voice votes; opponents said taxpayers should have oversight. The article passed by voice/standing vote.

What happens next: under Vermont statute and local practice, the select board and town staff will place the affected items on the printed Australian ballots for town-wide voting; the meeting included discussion of logistics (ballot requests) and outreach to help residents participate.

Votes at a glance - Article 1 (budget articles by Australian ballot): Passed (standing count recorded by the moderator). - Article 2 (charitable appropriations by Australian ballot): Passed (voice/standing vote).

Community context: Supporters framed the move as a way to enfranchise elderly residents, people with caregiving or work conflicts, and others unable to attend a morning meeting. Opponents said face‑to‑face amendment and deliberation are core to Vermont town‑meeting traditions. Select board members and staff said outreach and budget‑development opportunities will continue regardless of the voting method.

The town clerk and select board will finalize administrative details for how ballots are issued and counted ahead of the printed Australian ballots.