Vermont Officials Vow to Protect Election From Federal Interference

Governor Phil Scott and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas held a joint press conference on October 27 to address rising tensions ahead of the November 3 general election. Officials reported an increase in heated confrontations between voters and local clerks, which they attributed to misinformation originating from the Trump administration in Washington, D.C.

Scott asserted that the state will take all necessary actions to protect the voting process from federal interference, citing the U.S. Constitution's mandate that elections are the responsibility of the states. State officials are preparing for contingencies including cyberattacks, power outages, and the potential presence of federal immigration agents at polling locations. The Vermont Agency of Digital Services has already implemented additional protections for the secretary of state’s website and election management system.

Officials also noted a decline in early voting compared to 2024 and 2022, citing mail delivery delays and decreased confidence in mail-in voting as potential causes. Residents who have not received ballots were encouraged to visit local clerk offices or bring their own ballots to the polls on Election Day. These state-level preparations follow an announcement by the United States Department of Justice to deploy 1,000 election watchers nationwide.