Conventions to Amend U.S. Constitution

V.S.A. tit. 17, ch. 31

in effect

17 V.S.A. § 1811 Governor to call

1811. Governor to call Whenever the Congress of the United States shall submit to the several states an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and pursuant to Article V of the U.S. Constitution shall provide that the amendment be acted upon by conventions in the several states, the Governor, within 60 days after the amendment has been officially transmitted from the United States to this State, shall issue a call for the election of delegates to a convention to act upon the amendment. The Governor shall set the date for the election of delegates and the date and hour for the holding of the convention. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1812 Composition of convention

1812. Composition of convention The convention shall be composed of 14 delegates elected at large by the qualified voters of Vermont. It shall meet in the Senate chamber of the State House in Montpelier. The date for the holding of the convention shall be not less than 20 nor more than 30 days after the election of delegates. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1813 Election of delegates

1813. Election of delegates The election of delegates shall take place not less than three nor more than 12 months after the call, but in no case shall it occur within 40 days before the date fixed by law for a general or primary election. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1814 Appointment of candidates for delegates

1814. Appointment of candidates for delegates Not less than 30 days before the date of the election of delegates, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or in case of incapacity of any one of them, the Secretary of State in that person’s stead, shall appoint and forthwith announce the names of 28 candidates for delegates, the candidates being in their opinion representative citizens of Vermont. Fourteen of these candidates shall be persons who assent to the placing of their names on the ballots as “For Ratification,” and 14 shall be persons who assent to the placing of their names on the ballot as “Against Ratification.” One candidate for ratification and one candidate against ratification shall be appointed from each county in the State. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1815 Acceptance of candidacy

1815. Acceptance of candidacy On accepting the designation each candidate shall file the candidate’s acceptance as follows: “I do hereby accept this appointment as candidate for delegate to the convention to be held on the ............ day of ........................... ; and assent to the placing of my name on the ballot as For Ratification or Against Ratification. Signed ......................................... ” Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1816 Form of ballot

1816. Form of ballot The form of the ballot to be used shall be as follows: DELEGATES TO CONVENTION TO VOTE UPON THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES: (Here shall follow the text of the proposed amendment.) To vote for all the delegates who stand For Ratification, make an (X) in the square at the head of the column marked NAMES FOR RATIFICATION. To vote for all the delegates who stand Against Ratification, make a cross (X) in the square at the head of the column marked NAMES AGAINST RATIFICATION. If you do not wish to vote for every candidate in one column, make a cross (X) opposite the name of the candidates of your choice, not to exceed fourteen in all. If you do not wish to vote for the candidates named in the column “For Ratification” or the candidates named in the column “Against Ratification” you may write in the names of other delegates not to exceed fourteen in number in the spaces provided below. Ballots on which more than fourteen names are marked will be considered defective. [insert wide measure camera copy here]

17 V.S.A. § 1817 Endorsement of ballots

1817. Endorsement of ballots Upon each ballot shall be endorsed the words “Official Ballot,” followed by the name of the town in which it is to be used, the date of the election, and a facsimile of the signature of the Secretary of State with his or her official title.

17 V.S.A. § 1818 Checklist to be used

1818. Checklist to be used The checklist used in the last preceding general election shall apply, but may be revised as now provided by law for checklists used at general elections. The polls for this election shall open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1819 Canvassing board

1819. Canvassing board The Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of State shall canvass the ballots, declaring elected the 14 candidates who have received the greatest number of votes, and the Secretary of State shall publish the results. The Secretary of State, upon the completion of the canvass, shall mail or deliver in person to each delegate so elected a notice of election, and the delegates so elected shall be members of the convention. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1820 General election law to apply; expense of election

1820. General election law to apply; expense of election Expenses of the election shall be paid by the State or town as in the case of general elections. The statutory provisions as to holding general elections, furnishing ballots, instructions and forms, appointment and payment of election officers, filling of vacancies, solicitation of voters at the polls, challenging of voters, manner of conducting elections, counting and preserving the ballots and making ballot returns, and all other kindred subjects shall apply to the elections insofar as they are consistent with this chapter, it being the intent of this chapter to place the elections under the regulation and protection of the laws relating to general elections. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1821 Construction of chapter

1821. Construction of chapter The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so that the real will of the voters shall not be defeated and so that the voters shall not be deprived of their right because of informality or failure to comply with provisions of law as to notice or conduct of the election or of certifying the results of the election. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1822 Filling vacancies

1822. Filling vacancies In case of vacancies caused by death, disability, or resignation, the Governor shall fill the vacancies by appointment.

17 V.S.A. § 1823 Quorum; Secretary

1823. Quorum; Secretary A majority of the delegates shall constitute a quorum to do business, when convened according to the provisions of this chapter. The Secretary of State shall be ex officio Secretary of the convention and, with the Chair of the convention, the Secretary shall certify the vote of the convention to the Secretary of State of the United States. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

17 V.S.A. § 1824 Compensation

1824. Compensation The compensation of each delegate shall be $10.00 and actual expenses.

17 V.S.A. § 1825 Effect of congressional prescription of the manner of holding conventions

1825. Effect of congressional prescription of the manner of holding conventions If, on or about the time of submitting any such amendment, Congress, in the resolution submitting the amendment, or by statute, shall prescribe the manner in which the conventions shall be constituted, the preceding provisions of this chapter shall be inoperative. The convention shall be constituted and shall operate as the resolution or act of Congress shall direct, and all officers of the State who may by the resolution or statute be authorized or directed to take any action to constitute such a convention for this State are hereby authorized and directed to act under and in conformity with the resolution or statute, with the same force and effect as if acting under a statute of this State. Amended 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/17/031Fetched: 10/21/2026