S 98

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 1 of 25
1S.98
2 Introduced by Senator Vyhovsky
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Elections; qualification and registration of voters; automatic voter
6registration; preregistration for young voters; campaign finance;
7campaign finance reports and disclosures; delinquent filing;
8Democracy Certificate Program; employer-provided time off for
9statewide election days
10 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to automatically
11 register a person to vote when the person applies for participation in Reach
12 Ahead services and require State agencies to report to the General Assembly
13 concerning opportunities to expand automatic voter registration through the
14 application and registration forms used by those State agencies. This bill also
15 proposes to allow any individual 16 years of age or older to preregister to vote
16 for an election, provided that the individual will be 18 years of age or older on
17 or before the day of the election. This bill also proposes to amend the
18 threshold contribution and expenditure amounts that trigger campaign finance
19 reporting under 17 V.S.A. § 2964 and establish penalties for delinquent filing
20 of campaign finance reports and disclosures. This bill also proposes to
21 establish the Democracy Certificate Program to replace the current option of
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 2 of 25
1 public financing for campaigns. This bill also proposes to require employers to
2 provide four hours of protected leave time to allow employees to vote on
3 statewide election days.
4    An act relating to miscellaneous changes to election law
5 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
6* * * Automatic Voter Registration * * *
7 Sec. 1. 17 V.S.A. § 2144a is amended to read:
8 § 2144a. REGISTRATION
9    A person who desires to register to vote may apply in any of the following
10 ways:
11(1) Simultaneously with his or her the person’s application for, or
12 renewal of,:
13(A) a motor vehicle driver’s license or nondriver identification
14card as provided in section 2145a of this chapter; or
15(B) any services available pursuant to 33 V.S.A. chapter 12.
16***
17 Sec. 2. 33 V.S.A. § 1205 is amended to read:
18 § 1205. REQUIRED SERVICES TO PARTICIPATING FAMILIES
19***
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 3 of 25
1    (c) The Commissioner shall ensure that the applications and forms used by
2 the Department for Reach Ahead services, including for the Supplemental
3 Nutrition Assistance Program, automatically register the applicant to vote
4 pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2144a. The voter registration provision on any
5 application or form used by the Department for these services shall offer the
6 applicant the option to opt out of registering to vote.
7 Sec. 3. EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES; REPORT ON VOTER
8REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES
9    (a) On or before November 15, 2025, the following departments and
10 agencies shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Government
11 Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government
12 Operations that lists and describes any of the department’s or agency’s
13 application forms that may be updated to include automatic voter registration:
14(1) Agency of Human Services;
15(2) Agency of Education;
16(3) Department of Labor;
17(4) Agency of Commerce and Community Development;
18(5) Department for Children and Families; and
19(6) Department of Health.
20    (b) Each department and agency shall include in its report a description of
21 how the department’s or agency’s application or registration systems may be
                                                                  VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 4 of 25
1 integrated with the State’s voter registration system. The report shall also
2 include a proposed timeline for implementing voter registration into the
3 systems.
4* * * Preregistration for Young Voters * * *
5 Sec. 4. 17 V.S.A. § 2121 is amended to read:
6 § 2121. ELIGIBILITY OF VOTERS
7    (a) Any person may register to vote in the town of his or her the person’s
8 residence in any election held in a political subdivision of this State in which
9 he or she the person resides who, on election day:
10(1) is a citizen of the United States;
11(2) is a resident of the State of Vermont;
12(3) has taken the voter’s oath; and
13(4) is 18 years of age or more.
14    (b) Any person meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)–(3) of this
15 section who will be 18 years of age on or before the date of a general election
16 may register and vote in the primary election immediately preceding that
17 general election.
18    (c) Any person meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)–(3) of this
19 section who is 16 years of age may register to vote in Vermont, but shall not
20 vote in any election in the State unless the person is 18 years of age or under
21 qualifies under subsection (b) of this section.
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 5 of 25
1* * * Campaign Finance * * *
2 Sec. 5. 17 V.S.A. § 2903 is amended to read:
3 § 2903. PENALTIES
4    (a) A person who knowingly and intentionally violates a provision of
5 subchapter 2, 3, or 4 of this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 or
6 imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
7***
8 Sec. 6. 17 V.S.A. § 2964 is amended to read:
9 § 2964. CAMPAIGN REPORTS; CANDIDATES FOR STATE OFFICE,
10THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND COUNTY OFFICE;
11POLITICAL COMMITTEES; POLITICAL PARTIES
12    (a)(1) Each candidate for State office, the General Assembly, or a two-
13 year-term county office who has rolled over any amount of surplus into his or
14 her the candidate’s new campaign or who has made expenditures or accepted
15 contributions of $500.00 or more during the two-year general election cycle
16 and, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each political
17 committee that has not filed a final report pursuant to subsection 2965(b) of
18 this chapter, and each political party required to register under section 2923 of
19 this chapter shall file with the Secretary of State campaign finance reports as
20 follows:
21***
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 6 of 25
1(2) Each candidate for a four-year-term county office who has rolled
2 over any amount of surplus into his or her the candidate’s new campaign or
3 who has made expenditures or accepted contributions of $500.00 or more
4 during the four-year general election cycle shall file with the Secretary of State
5 campaign finance reports as follows:
6***
7    (b)(1) A political committee or a political party that has accepted
8 contributions or made expenditures of $1,000.00 or more during the local
9 election cycle for the purpose of influencing a local election or supporting or
10 opposing one or more candidates in a local election shall file with the Secretary
11 of State campaign finance reports regarding that local election 30 days before,
12 10 days before, and two weeks after the local election.
13***
14    (c) The failure of a candidate, political committee, or political party to file a
15 report under this section shall be deemed an affirmative statement that a report
16 is not required of the candidate, political committee, or political party under
17 this section A candidate, political committee, or political party that is not
18 otherwise required to file a report pursuant to this section shall file with the
19 Secretary of State a report and affirmative statement that the candidate,
20 political committee, or political party has not made expenditures or accepted
21 contributions in the amounts specified in this section.
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 7 of 25
1 Sec. 7. 17 V.S.A. § 2974 is added to read:
2 § 2974. DELINQUENT FILING; PENALTIES
3    (a) If any registration, report, or disclosure is not filed in the time and
4 manner required by this chapter:
5(1) The Office of the Secretary of State shall issue a notice of
6 delinquency to the candidate for any registration, report, or disclosure required
7 of a candidate in the time and manner required by this chapter.
8(2) The candidate shall have five-business-days from the date that the
9 Office of the Secretary of State issues the notice to cure the delinquency.
10(3) Immediately following the five business day period, the delinquent
11 candidate shall pay a $10.00 penalty for each subsequent day that the
12 registration, report, or disclosure remains delinquent. For an individual
13 delinquent filing, the total amount of penalties imposed pursuant to this section
14 shall not exceed $1,000.00.
15(4) Notwithstanding subdivision (3) of this subsection, the Secretary of
16 State may reduce or waive any penalty imposed under this section if the
17 candidate demonstrates good cause, as determined by the Secretary of State.
18    (b) The Office of the Secretary of State shall send a notice of delinquency
19 to the email address provided by the candidate in the candidate’s consent of
20 candidate form.
                                                                      VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 8 of 25
1    (c) The Secretary of State may utilize remedies available to a claimant
2 agency under 32 V.S.A. chapter 151, subchapter 12 to collect any unpaid
3 penalty.
4    (d)(1) A candidate who files a report or disclosure with intent to defraud,
5 falsify, conceal, or cover up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; or,
6 with intent to defraud, make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim or
7 representation as to a material fact; or, with intent to defraud, make or use any
8 writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or
9 fraudulent claim or entry as to a material fact shall be considered to have made
10 a false claim for the purposes of 13 V.S.A. § 3016.
11(2) Pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 1223 and section 2904a of this title,
12 complaints regarding any candidate who fails to properly file a registration,
13 report, or disclosure required under this chapter may be filed with the Office of
14 the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall refer complaints to the
15 Attorney General or to the State’s Attorney of jurisdiction for investigation, as
16 appropriate.
17 Sec. 8. REPEAL
18    17 V.S.A. chapter 61, subchapter 5 (campaign finance; public financing
19 option) is repealed.
20 Sec. 9. 17 V.S.A. chapter 61, subchapter 6 is added to read:
21Subchapter 6. Public Financing Option
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 9 of 25
1 § 2987. DEMOCRACY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
2    (a) As used in this chapter, a “democracy certificate” means a document
3 sent to voters in this State that signifies that a certain amount of funding, as
4 determined by the General Assembly, is to be transferred from the Secretary of
5 State Fund to the candidate of the voter’s choosing pursuant to the provisions
6 of this subchapter.
7    (b) The democracy certificate program shall only be available for
8 candidates running for State office in a primary election or a general election.
9 The democracy certificate program shall not be available for special elections
10 or uncontested elections.
11    (c) A voter may opt into the democracy certificate program and obtain
12 democracy certificates by application to the Secretary of State if the individual
13 is eligible to vote under section 2121 of this title.
14 § 2988. DEMOCRACY CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE
15    (a) The Secretary of State shall issue four democracy certificates, each
16 worth $25.00 in candidate financing, to each voter who has opted into the
17 democracy certificate program. The funds shall be disbursed to the assigned
18 candidates as set forth in section 2991 of this chapter.
19    (b)(1) Not later than the first business day in March, the Secretary of State
20 shall issue democracy certificates to each voter who has opted into the
21 democracy certificate program for the primary elections.
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 10 of 25
1(2) Not later than the first business day in September, the Secretary of
2 State shall issue democracy certificates to each voter who has opted into the
3 democracy certificate program for the general elections.
4(3) The Secretary of State shall either issue the democracy certificates
5 by mail or electronically through a secure Secretary of State online system.
6 The Secretary of State may prescribe ways in which voters may choose their
7 delivery preference.
8 § 2989. DEMOCRACY CERTIFICATE ASSIGNMENT AND RECEIPT
9    (a) Democracy certificates are only assignable or transferable as stated in
10 this section.
11    (b) A voter who has opted into the democracy certificate program may
12 assign a democracy certificate by indicating the candidate of the voter’s choice
13 and signing the democracy certificate. A voter may only assign a democracy
14 certificate to a qualified candidate for the democracy certificate program in a
15 primary election or a general election for a State office.
16    (c) Town clerks shall receive, verify, and process all physical democracy
17 certificates mailed by the Secretary of State and submitted to the town clerks
18 by the voters of their respective towns. The Secretary of State shall receive,
19 verify, and process all democracy certificates submitted electronically through
20 a secure Secretary of State online system, if any.
                                                                   VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 11 of 25
1    (d) No democracy certificate shall be assigned after the last business day in
2 August for primary State office elections or the last business day in November
3 for general State office elections.
4    (e) No democracy certificate may be assigned to any candidate filing for
5 participation who then fails to qualify or becomes unqualified for the position
6 sought or for the democracy certificate program.
7    (f) A candidate participating in the democracy certificate program may
8 seek the assignment of voters’ democracy certificates personally or through a
9 representative.
10    (g) A voter’s valid assignment of a democracy certificate to a candidate is
11 irrevocable.
12    (h) Assignment or transfer of a democracy certificate for cash or any other
13 consideration is prohibited. Offering to purchase, buy, or sell a democracy
14 certificate is prohibited. No person shall give or gift a democracy certificate to
15 another individual, except by assigning it to a candidate as provided in this
16 section. In all cases, a democracy certificate assignment shall be deemed
17 invalid or revocable if the assignment was the result of threats, coercion, or
18 physical duress.
19 § 2990. CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION
20    (a) Only a candidate who is qualified to participate in the democracy
21 certificate program may receive an assignment of a democracy certificate and
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 12 of 25
1 disbursement of public finance funds. A candidate is qualified to participate in
2 the democracy certificate program if the candidate meets all the requirements
3 of this subchapter and any related rules adopted by the Secretary of State. The
4 Secretary of State shall determine, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, any
5 questions regarding whether a candidate has met the requirements of this
6 subchapter and shall confirm publicly and with the candidate if the candidate
7 does qualify for the democracy certificate program.
8    (b) Only an individual eligible for and seeking an elected State office
9 position shall be eligible to file for democracy certificate program
10 participation.
11    (c) The democracy certificate program shall not be available for special
12 elections.
13    (d) A candidate for State office who intends to seek public finance funds
14 from the Secretary of State Services Fund shall file a Vermont campaign
15 finance affidavit on or before the date on which primary petitions or general
16 election petitions must be filed, regardless of whether the candidate seeks to
17 enter a party primary, is an independent candidate, or seeks to enter the general
18 election.
19    (e) The Secretary of State shall prepare a Vermont campaign finance
20 affidavit form, informational materials on procedures and financial
21 requirements, and notification of the penalties for violation of this subchapter.
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 13 of 25
1    (f)(1) The Vermont campaign finance affidavit shall set forth the conditions
2 of receiving grants under this subchapter and provide space for the candidate to
3 agree that the candidate will abide by such conditions and all expenditure and
4 contribution limitations, reporting requirements, and other provisions of this
5 subchapter.
6(2) The affidavit shall also state the candidate’s name; legal residence;
7 business or occupation; address of business or occupation; party affiliation, if
8 any; the office sought; and whether the candidate intends to enter a party
9 primary or the general election.
10(3) The affidavit shall also contain a list of all contributions and other
11 sources of campaign funds received by the candidate to date.
12(4) The Secretary of State may require further affirmation of
13 information submitted by the candidate on the affidavit, as deemed necessary
14 by the Secretary of State for the administration of this subchapter.
15(5) The affidavit shall be sworn and subscribed to by the candidate.
16    (g) A candidate shall be disqualified from the democracy certificate
17 program by publicly withdrawing or otherwise abandoning the race, failing to
18 advance to the general election, or in the event that the Secretary of State, the
19 Attorney General, or a State’s Attorney determines that the candidate has
20 violated any election laws or democracy certificate program requirements,
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 14 of 25
1 such as violation of campaign fund limitation or contribution limit laws, or
2 fraudulent or attempted fraudulent assignment of democracy certificates.
3    (h) A candidate participating in the democracy certificate program shall:
4(1) participate in at least three debates or similar public events for
5 primary and general elections each;
6(2) not knowingly solicit money for or on behalf of any political action
7 committee, political party, or any organization that will make an independent
8 expenditure for or against any candidate for State office within the same
9 election cycle; and
10(3) not solicit or accept total contributions from any individual or entity
11 in excess of $2,000.00 during one election cycle, but excluding the value of
12 democracy certificates assigned to such candidate.
13    (i) The Secretary of State shall publish and maintain a list of democracy
14 certificate program participants to be readily accessible by the public and on
15 the Secretary of State’s website.
16 § 2991. DISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCE FUNDS
17    (a) After receiving a democracy certificate pursuant to section 2987 of this
18 title, the Secretary of State shall disburse the value of the certificate proceeds
19 only if:
                                                                      VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 15 of 25
1(1) disbursement of public finance funds shall not make a qualified
2 candidate exceed the maximum campaign fund limitation pursuant to
3 section 2941 of this chapter;
4(2) public finance funds are available;
5(3) the Town Clerk verifies that a voter has returned the physical
6 democracy certificate with the assigned serial number through a secure
7 democracy certificate drop box; and
8(4) the Secretary of State has verified that a voter has electronically
9 returned the democracy certificate with the assigned serial number through a
10 secure Secretary of State online system.
11    (b) The Secretary shall not disburse the payment of public finance funds if
12 any of the following circumstances apply:
13(1) the voter is no longer registered within this State;
14(2) the candidate is deceased, is disqualified from the democracy
15 certificate program, has dropped out, or has failed to use the democracy
16 certificate;
17(3) the candidate does not qualify or has violated the qualification
18 requirements of the democracy certificate program;
19(4) after the first business day in the month of September, a candidate in
20 a primary election for State office does not advance to the general election; or
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 16 of 25
1(5) after the first business day of the month of December, a candidate in
2 a general election for State office does not win the general election.
3    (c)(1) The Secretary of State shall make disbursements from the Secretary
4 of State Services Fund to candidates who have qualified for public finance
5 funds under this subchapter.
6(2) To cover any public finance funds to democracy certificate program
7 participants under this subchapter, the Secretary of State shall report to the
8 Commissioner of Finance and Management, who shall anticipate receipts to
9 the Services Fund and issue warrants to pay for those funds. The
10 Commissioner shall report any such anticipated receipts and warrants issued
11 under this subdivision to the Joint Fiscal Committee on or before December 1
12 of the year in which the warrants were issued.
13    (d) A candidate participating in the democracy certificate program may be
14 assigned democracy certificates for the general election before the primary
15 election takes place and may allocate democracy certificates to the general
16 election without such certificates counting against the maximum campaign
17 fund limitation for the primary election.
18    (e) Public finance funds disbursed in a primary election period but not
19 expended by the candidate in the primary election period may be expended by
20 the candidate in the general election period if the candidate has won the
21 candidate’s primary election.
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 17 of 25
1    (f) The Secretary of State shall disburse public finance funds to qualifying
2 candidates within 10 business days after verifying any validly assigned
3 democracy certificates.
4    (g) The monetary amounts contained in this subchapter shall be adjusted
5 for inflation pursuant to the Consumer Price Index as provided in section 2905
6 of this chapter.
7 § 2992. CAMPAIGN FUND LIMITATIONS
8    (a) Candidates qualified to participate in the democracy certificate program
9 shall not exceed the following maximum campaign fund limitations for State
10 office:
11(1) $1,000,000.00 in cumulative campaign funds for a candidate for
12 Governor; and
13(2) $500,000.00 in cumulative campaign funds for a candidate for
14 Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General, or
15 Secretary of State.
16    (b) A candidate participating in the democracy certificate program shall
17 report to the Secretary of State when the maximum campaign fund limitation
18 for a candidate described in subsection (a) of this section is met or surpassed.
19    (c) The affidavit shall also contain a list of all the candidate’s contributions
20 to date together with the name and town of residence of the contributor and the
21 date each contribution was made.
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 18 of 25
1 § 2993. ACCOUNTABILITY
2    (a) The Secretary of State shall publish the democracy certificate program
3 information so that the public may track assignments of democracy certificates
4 and disbursements of public finance funds.
5    (b) If a voter believes the voter’s democracy certificate was lost, stolen, or
6 fraudulently or improperly assigned, the Secretary of State may provide relief
7 as the Secretary of State deems appropriate, including democracy certificate
8 replacement, cancellation of assignment, or requiring reimbursement from a
9 candidate to the Secretary of State Fund of any prior disbursed democracy
10 certificate program funds.
11 § 2994. ADMINISTRATION
12    (a) Administration by Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall
13 implement and administer the democracy certificate program, public finance
14 funds, and the provisions of this subchapter, including adopting rules and
15 creating forms, information packets, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms
16 as necessary.
17    (b) Publication of materials. Prior to distributing democracy certificates,
18 the Secretary of State shall inform the public about the democracy certificate
19 program. The Secretary of State shall publish appropriate guidebooks for
20 candidates and democracy certificates recipients, and all forms, instructions,
21 brochures, and documents necessary for the program, which shall include
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 19 of 25
1 making key documents accessible to those with visual or other disabilities, and
2 translations into languages other than English spoken by Vermont residents.
3    (c) Democracy Certificate Program Fund Limits. On or before January 1
4 of each State office election year, the Secretary of State shall set and publish
5 the Democracy Certificate Program Fund Limit for that year for democracy
6 certificate disbursements. In setting the Democracy Certificate Program Fund
7 Limit, the Secretary of State shall work to reasonably project and ensure that
8 adequate funds are available for that election year consistent with this
9 subchapter and its goals and purposes.
10    (d) Funding amount. During any State office election year, as soon as the
11 Secretary of State receives or reasonably believes the Secretary of State shall
12 receive assigned democracy certificates in excess of available public finance
13 funds, then funds shall be deemed unavailable, and the Secretary of State shall
14 publicly announce the same and, notwithstanding any provision of this
15 subchapter to the contrary, set a new date by which assigned democracy
16 certificates must be submitted. After the new date, the Secretary of State,
17 considering democracy certificates are received and there are available funds,
18 shall allocate the remaining available public finance funds to each assigned
19 candidate among all participating candidates for all State offices proportionate
20 to the number of assigned democracy certificates for which public finance
21 funds have not yet been disbursed.
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 20 of 25
1 § 2995. VIOLATIONS
2    (a) A person who knowingly and intentionally violates any provision of
3 this subchapter is subject to the penalties listed in section 2903 of this chapter.
4    (b) A person violates this subchapter if the person knowingly and
5 intentionally purchases, buys, sells, pays, or receives consideration for any
6 democracy certificate or attempts to do so. Further, a person shall be in
7 violation of this subchapter if the person attempts to sell or dispense a stolen
8 democracy certificate registered to another voter.
9    (c) A person violates this subchapter if the person knowingly and
10 intentionally receives, possesses, conceals, or destroys any democracy
11 certificate assigned by a voter.
12    (d) A person violates this subchapter if the person knowingly and
13 intentionally does the following:
14(1) falsely makes or draws a complete or incomplete democracy
15 certificate that purports to be authentic but is not authentic, either because the
16 ostensible maker is fictitious or because, if real, the person did not authorize
17 the making or drawing or signing of the democracy certificate;
18(2) falsely completes a democracy certificate assignment by adding or
19 inserting matter, including a forged signature, without the authority of the
20 person entitled to assign the democracy certificate; or
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 21 of 25
1(3) falsely alters a democracy certificate, without authorization by the
2 holder or recipient of the democracy certificate entitled to grant it, by means of
3 erasure, obliteration, deletion, insertion of new matter, transposition of matter,
4 or in any other manner.
5    (e) A candidate who violates any provision of this section may be
6 disqualified from participating in the democracy certificate program for that
7 election cycle, in the sole discretion of the Secretary of State.
8 § 2996. REPORTING
9    Annually, on or before January 15, the Secretary of State shall report to the
10 House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the
11 Senate Committee on Government Operations with the Secretary of State’s
12 recommendations for maximum campaign limits, contribution limitations,
13 prior and projected democracy certificate program funding needs to ensure
14 proper accumulation, distribution of funds during nonelection and election
15 years, and any recommendations for legislative action.
16 § 2997. DESIGN OF DEMOCRACY CERTIFICATE
17    (a) The Secretary of State shall design the democracy certificates.
18    (b) The Secretary of State shall print the following either on the face of the
19 physical democracy certificates or in digital form if democracy certificates are
20 to be electronically submitted via a secure Secretary of State online system:
21“Democracy Certificates of __________”
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 22 of 25
1    (print your name)
2    I, ___________, solemnly swear or affirm that I am a resident of the town
3 (city) of _________, State of Vermont, and that I am a legal voter in this town
4 (city).
5 _________________________________________
6 (your signature)
7    (c) The Secretary of State shall include an identification number for each
8 issued democracy certificate.
9    (d) The Secretary of State shall print in which election or elections the
10 democracy certificate may be assigned to candidates.
11    (e) The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish democracy certificate
12 forms and any supporting documentation for the democracy certificate
13 program.
14 Sec. 10. 17 V.S.A. § 2998 is added to read:
15 § 2998. RULEMAKING
16    The Secretary of State shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 for
17 the administration and implementation of the democracy certificate program,
18 including:
19(1) issuance of democracy certificates to voters who opt into the
20 democracy voucher program and disbursements to qualified candidates; and
                                                                   VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 23 of 25
1(2) the receipt of duplicate democracy certificates and procedures for
2 mitigating instances of loss, theft, destruction, or forgery of democracy
3 certificates.
4      * * * Employer-Provided Time off for Statewide Election Days * * *
5 Sec. 11. 21 V.S.A. chapter 5, subchapter 13 is added to read:
6Subchapter 13. Rights of Voters
7 § 571. VOTERS
8    (a) Time off. Each employer in this State shall permit any employee, upon
9 24 hours advanced notice to the employee, to take up to four hours off from
10 employment to vote in person in any local, municipal, district, county, State, or
11 federal primary, general, or special election for which such employee is
12 qualified; provided, however, the employer need not grant time off for voting
13 if the hours of work of an employee commence at least two hours after the
14 opening of the polls or end at least two hours prior to the closing of the polls.
15    (b) Scheduled time. An employer may specify the scheduled working
16 hours during which the employee may take time off to vote described in
17 subsection (a) of this section.
18    (c) Discipline and benefits. An employer shall not discharge, penalize or
19 otherwise discipline, or deprive the employee of any right, privilege, or benefit
20 in a manner that discriminates between the employee and other employees not
21 voting, because of the employee’s voting in accordance with this section.
                                                                     VT LEG #381107 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
 2025  Page 24 of 25
1      (d) Replacements. An employer shall not require an employee to find a
2 replacement for time off taken to vote as described in subsection (a) of this
3 section.
4      (e) Compensation.
5(1) An employer shall not require an employee who is absent from work
6 in accordance with this section to use earned or accrued leave times described
7 in this chapter.
8(2) An employer shall not be required to pay an employee who is absent
9 from work in accordance with this section for the time absent unless the
10 employer and the employee mutually agree that either:
11(A) the employee will work an equivalent number of hours as the
12 number of hours for which the employee is absent during the same pay period;
13 or
14(B) the employee will trade hours with a second employee so that the
15 second employee works during the hours for which the employee is absent and
16 the employee works an equivalent number of hours in place of the second
17 employee during the same pay period.
18      (f) Posted notice. An employer shall post notice of the provisions of this
19 section in a form provided by the Commissioner in a place conspicuous to
20 employees at the employer’s place of business. An employer shall also notify
                                                                    VT LEG #381107 v.1
BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.98
2025  Page 25 of 25
1 an employee of the provisions of this section at the time of the employee’s
2 hiring.
3    (g) Penalty. An employer who violates a provision of this section shall be
4 fined not more than $200.00.
5* * * Effective Date * * *
6 Sec. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE
7    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
                                                                 VT LEG #381107 v.1