Vermonters are heading to the polls around the state. Here’s what’s on the ballot.

Vermonters are heading to the polls today to cast their ballots in a midterm election that could reshape the balance of power in Montpelier.

Top of mind for many voters is the race for governor between incumbent Republican Phil Scott and Democrat/Progressive Amanda Janoo. The race has shaped up to be far closer than most political observers expected between Scott, who is seeking his sixth term, and Janoo, an economist from Burlington running her first-ever campaign.

Candidates for most other statewide offices are on the ballot, too, including Vermont’s sole U.S. House seat, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state and state auditor. Every seat in the Vermont House and Senate is also on the ballot, as are county-level positions including sheriffs and state’s attorneys.

Voters are also being asked whether to add two proposed amendments to the Vermont Constitution, one aimed at supporting collective bargaining and the other meant to protect people’s rights regardless of how they identify.

Polls are open until 7 p.m. Unsure of where to vote, or who’s on your local ballot? Our 2026 General Election Guide can help. And, be sure to check back on VTDigger.org this evening, and throughout the night, as election results become available.

Ward 4 – Burlington High School 7:45 a.m.

Red, blue and white balloons dotted the driveway up to the Burlington High School gym, a brand new location for Ward 4 in the Queen City, Tuesday morning. 

Candidate signs were stuck along the way to the entrance of the polling place, and candidates and their supporters shook hands with voters outside. 

“It’s very exciting because this is a new polling place in Burlington and all the voters are Burlington taxpayers so they voted for this new building,” said Amy Bielawski-Branch, the election clerk. 

Because the polls were in the back of the building, she worried if voters were able to find it easily. 

Two people waited as the polls opened, she said, and it’s been a steady stream since. At 7:45, poll workers counted 1,433 votes, although the majority were mail-ins. About 50 to 60 people had voted there in person, she estimated. 

In the lobby, there were charts with a sticker poll for residents to vote on what features they’d like to see in the Ethan Allen Park playground. Maddy Meath, 10, voted for adventure features. 

She comes to vote with her mother every year, she said, and she really liked how modern the new high school is, she said.

Winooski 8:40 a.m.

In Winooski, Mayor Thomas Renner greeted voters with hugs and a big smile at the Barlow Street senior center, where there was a line of voters waiting to cast their ballots.

“It’s been a busy day, which I love to see. We’ve had some first-time voters and some new residents,” he said. “People are in a good mood, and there’s a good feeling in the air.”

Renner greeted long-term resident Roberto Mathys-Vallaro as he walked in. A business owner and a father of seven, Mathys-Vallaro said he has voted in the city for 19 years.

“I just feel it’s an important way for us to make our statement as citizens,” he said. 

He said he is most interested in the governor’s race and plans to vote for Scott. He said he likes Janoo but said he thinks she needs “a little more experience.”

“I am Democrat/Progressive all the way, but I also don’t think we have a lot of good Republican leaders, and I think our governor is one,” he said. 

Vermont’s most diverse city recorded about 1,400-1,500 ballots out of 5,900 by 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to Jenny Willingham, city clerk and presiding officer. 

Outside, Nicole Mace, president of the school board, had set up a table with a game seeking voter input on a required plan for Act 71 to evaluate a merger with Burlington and South Burlington school districts. She handed out 10 tokens and asked residents to use them to vote for five values. “So we are going through the process with an open mind,” she said.

Jeff Baron, 55, bought his house in Winooski 10 years ago and said he’s been voting there since. 

“I’m wearing the green outfit I wore when Hillary lost. I’m hoping to reverse the curse. Let’s take our country back,” he said, declining to divulge details. 

Rutland City

Rutland City voters slowly trickled into polls in the morning hours. Already, 1,370 Rutland residents had cast a ballot through early voting, around 12% of the city’s registered voters, according to City Clerk Tracy Kapusta.

Chris Fucci, 75, of Rutland City, is a commercial real estate and business consultant and self-described democratic socialist. While Gov. Scott has done a lot of good things as governor, Fucci said that he thinks it’s time for change in Vermont’s gubernatorial office and favors one of Janoo’s signature policies during the campaign, universal primary care, as well as universal healthcare and childcare.

“I feel that Amanda is a breath of fresh air, and that’s what we need,” Fucci said outside of the Ward 2 polling location. “We’re stuck and not getting any of these things put on the table, and I commend her for taking the initiative and having the chutzpah to say, you know, ‘I can figure this out.’”

Madeline Coppinger, an 84-year-old retiree, said she is voting because this election is significant nationally, and she wants to see more bipartisanship in politics. While voting for Democratic candidate Molly Gray against incumbent Republican John Rodgers for the lieutenant governor’s race, Coppinger said she supported incumbent Scott in the governor’s race. 

“I think his leadership has been civil. I think he has the experience and a plan, and I think that that’s important,” Coppinger said of Scott. 

Despite identifying with the Democratic Party otherwise, Jackie Hanlon, 73, a social worker, said that she voted for Scott because he has done a “good job.” The proposal on collective bargaining contained confusing language, Hanlon said. She voted for it because she wants “people to be able to unionize.” 

“I didn’t want to not prevent anything,” Hanlon said.

Montpelier approximately 8:40 – 9:00 a.m.

In the capital city, Catherine Beal, 56, a Montpelier resident, clutched a Dunkin’ Donuts cup in her hand as she made her way down the steps after voting. In this election, Beal said, one of her biggest passions is finding government officials who will hold the federal administration accountable.

Beal said she’s dissatisfied with both the Republicans and the Democrats in Congress, although she often votes for Democrats.

“I’m not actually a Democrat anymore,” Beal said. “I don’t claim to be because we need to change the system, and so the only way to change a system is to come out to vote, and that’s why I’m here.”

Beal said she is inspired by Amanda Janoo, and she is seeking change in the governor’s race. Up until the 2024 election, she said she had few complaints about Gov. Phil Scott’s leadership, but since then she said she’s seen him pass more conservative policies. As a former U.S. government employee, she was particularly frustrated by the return-to-office directive that Scott issued.

“He has no idea how well people have adjusted to working from home,” Beal said. 

Her biggest worry is the U.S. Constitution, Beal said. She said she doesn’t feel that Congress has done enough to protect the country from federal actions recently, particularly regarding immigration and freedom of expression.

“I’ve just become very cynical about, you know, politicians for the most part,” Beal said. “So I’m really concerned about the erosions of the Constitution, you know, the right to vote, the right to, the right for assembly.” 

Ed Linton, a Montpelier resident, had already voted but turned up bundled in warm clothing to act as an election observer.

The biggest concerns that Linton, 78, has are what he views as corruption in Washington D.C. He said it is necessary to secure the nation’s democracy.

Overall, Linton, who brought his ballot down about a week ago, is “trying to contribute to keeping this election fair and safe.”

This page will be updated. 

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