Vermont Business Magazine As the 2026 election season ramps up, Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas reminded voters today that a live list of candidates running for office is available online at: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/election-info-resources/candidates
To get on the ballot, candidates running for elected offices at the local, state, and federal levels need to file their “Consent of Candidate” form and a petition with signatures of registered voters. Statewide candidates must collect 500 signatures; state senate candidates must collect 100; state representative candidates must collect 50; county candidates (sheriff, high bailiff, state’s attorney, probate judge, assistant judge) must collect 100.
Each candidate for non-federal statewide office, state senate, state representative, and county office must also file a Financial Disclosure form created and maintained by the State Ethics Commission. This form is available on the State Ethics Commission's website and there is a link to the form on the Secretary of State’s website.
The window to file with the Secretary of State’s office opened on Monday, April 27. For major party candidates running in the August 11 primary election, the filing deadline is Thursday, May 28, at 5:00 pm.
The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s office maintains a live, publicly available database that lists the candidates who have filed to run for office, alongside their provided contact information and their Financial Disclosure form.
“We tend to see lower turnout in midterm election years – primary elections in particular – and I’d like to see that change,” said Secretary Copeland Hanzas. “My office will be working on a variety of voter outreach and education efforts this summer and fall, and this live database is a simple but impactful part of that. I believe that transparent information about who’s on your ballot makes voting more accessible and strengthens trust in our democracy.”
Voters can check their registration status, find information about their polling place, and let their clerk know they’re available to volunteer as a poll worker at the Vermont Voter Portal: https://vote.vermont.gov.
5.21.2026. Montpelier, VT – Vermont Secretary of State https://sos.vermont.gov
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Vermont Business Magazine