Bennington County Voters Assured State Primary Elections Are Secure

Last updated: August 8, 2026

BENNINGTON, Vt. NewsWK — As state primary elections approach, local voters in Bennington County and across Southern Vermont can rest assured that the state’s voting process remains secure, accessible, and transparent. Local town clerks and election officials are fully prepared to administer the upcoming vote under strong state protections.

According to a report first published by the Bennington Banner, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas assured the public that the state’s election systems are dependable and built on paper records. “Vermont‘s elections are free, fair, secure, and accessible, and we want Vermonters to be able to trust their election results,” Copeland Hanzas said during a press briefing covered by the Bennington Banner.

Local Protections and Voting Security

State officials highlighted that election administration in Vermont is driven by a decentralized network of local public servants. Copeland Hanzas works closely with 247 sworn town and city clerks across the state, alongside local boards of civil authority, to execute voting locally.

Vermont recently strengthened safeguards for local voters through the Voter Protections Act, signed into law by Governor Phil Scott as Act 126. The legislation explicitly criminalizes voter intimidation and interference at the polls. It also protects voters against discrimination based on race, color, language minority status, or disability.

If local residents witness any unexpected behavior or potential intimidation at their polling place, state officials advise immediately reporting it to a poll worker or town clerk.

Federal Arguments and the 10th Amendment

National discussions regarding election rules have prompted state leaders to reaffirm local control over the ballot box. During a recent panel at the National Governors Association, Governor Scott emphasized that the U.S. Constitution leaves election administration to individual states under the 10th Amendment.

Scott rejected calls for nationalizing election standards, stating that state leaders understand local needs best and can run secure elections independently from Washington, D.C.

Debating Mail-in Voting for Primaries

While mail-in ballots are automatically sent to all active registered voters for general elections, primary elections operate differently. Governor Scott expressed support for expanding universal vote-by-mail to primary elections as well.

However, Copeland Hanzas explained that Vermont’s open primary system makes universal mail-in voting for primaries significantly more expensive and complex. Because voters do not register by political party, the state would need to mail three distinct ballots, for the Democratic, Republican, and Progressive primaries, along with return envelopes for both voted and unvoted ballots to every active voter.

“I think we make it as easy as possible in Vermont to vote, and I think that we should reflect on that,” Scott stated in comments reported by the Bennington Banner.

How This Affects You and What to Do Next

There are roughly 500,000 registered voters in Vermont who can access helpful voting tools ahead of primary day. Local residents in Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Manchester, and surrounding towns can prepare by taking a few quick steps:

• Visit the official portal at vote.vermont.gov to view localized sample ballots and candidate statements.
• Track the status of your requested mail-in ballot from printing to delivery at your local town clerk’s office.
• Confirm your active registration status to ensure your voting details are up to date.
• Contact your local town clerk if you plan to vote early or need assistance at the polls on election day.