The Vermont General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on May 29 after passing one election-related bill, which Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed on June 8.
S. 298 is an omnibus elections bill. It includes a prohibition on state or local voting policies that result in a “denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote based on race or color, membership in a language minority group, or having a disability.” The bill also authorizes the attorney general to file a civil action if they believe the prohibition has been violated. The legislation originally would have enacted a state-level voting rights act in Vermont, but most of the relevant provisions were removed.
The bill also allows candidates to use campaign funds on security systems, protective details, or cybersecurity. Vermont is the seventh state to enact legislation in 2026 allowing campaign funds to be used for security purposes, joining Alabama, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah.
