https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/about/contact/
A Vermont registered voter in Ludlow, Vermont asked me why I am asking people to start a new minor political party with me while I am not stating a platform, and I said 17 V.S.A. says you organize the party in September of an odd numbered year and make the platform in an even numbered year. That made no sense to him at all so he would not join.
“17 V.S.A. § 2319. Party conventions for platforms:
On or before the fourth Tuesday in September in each even-numbered year, upon the call of the chair of the State committee of the party, a party platform convention of each organized political party shall be held to make and adopt the platform of the party.”
So, I re-read 17 V.S.A. and I want you to confirm that the statute for making the platform in an even numbered year is not required of a minor party.
“17 V.S.A. § 2318. Organization of minor political parties
A minor political party may organize in the manner set forth in this subchapter or in another manner that its members deem appropriate. Minor political parties shall comply with the filing requirements of sections 2307, 2311 to the extent applicable, and 2313 of this chapter, except that they need not be organized in 30 towns or in seven counties. They shall also comply with the procedural requirements of sections 2303 through 2306 and 2313 of this title, but need not comply with other procedural requirements in sections 2301, 2302, 2308 through 2310, and 2312 of this title. Minor political parties shall also comply with sections 2314 through 2317 of this title.”
Also, there is a lack of clarity in the law because it says
Ҥ 2318. Organization of minor political parties
A minor political party may organize in the manner set forth in this subchapter or in another manner that its members deem appropriate.”…
So, my question is: does a minor party have to be organized in September of an odd numbered year or can it be gradually organized and when there are enough people in a minimum of ten towns, then apply to be certified by the Vermont Secretary of State Election Division by January 1, 2026? (Cite as: 17 V.S.A. § 2313)
§ 2313. Filing of certificate of organization
(a)(1) Within 10 days after the first meeting of the State committee of a party, the chair and secretary shall file in the office of the Secretary of State a certificate stating that the party has completed its organization for the ensuing two years and has substantially complied with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) However, no State committee shall be eligible to file a certificate of organization unless it has town committees organized in at least 30 towns in this State and county committees organized in at least seven counties by January 1 of the year of the general election.”
I believe we need until January 1, 2026 to get organized in ten towns as required under 17 V.S.A.§ 2381. “Applicability of subchapter (b) In no event may any committee nominate a candidate or candidates for statewide office under this subchapter unless the political party has town committees organized in at least 10 towns in this State in accordance with procedures in chapter 45 of this title.”
So, basically I want to know, can we make the platform now before completing finding enough people to organize since people do not want to join unless they see the platform first, and do we have until Januay 1, 2026?
Minor party
Doesn’t make sense to me either. Who would join a party that has no position or reason for being created. I think having a platform and officially adopting a platform is where you are losing it. Plus I will guess an official platform should be created by a representative group of the party. Not one person. But you need a starting point. You probably also need a group of like minded people to get this started. With a common idea.
Count me out.
One person in Burlington thinks we don't need ten towns to be officially organized?
One person in Burlington thinks we don’t need ten towns to be officially organized?
One woman in Burlington says she will be a town chair and one woman in Brattleboro. That’s a start, but I hope to find more! crisericson9@gmail.com Please email me if interested. We have not started a platform discussion but have agreed to have a meeting on Google meet or Zoom soon. On Facebook, they seem like very nice women, interested in organic health and food. One of them has 3 kids. These are the kind of people I need to start a new political party, just real Vermonters.
My main point is that if you are not satisfied with any of the current political parties, then please help me start a new one right away!
The Vermont Statutes Online https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/17/045
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 17: Elections
Chapter 45: Political Parties
§ 2301. Organization of major political parties
A major political party shall organize biennially as provided in this chapter. A person acting on behalf of a major political party shall not accept any contribution or make any expenditure (except for the purpose of organizing under this chapter) unless the party has a current certificate of organization on file with the Secretary of State. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2302. State chair to call caucus
(a) The chair of the State committee of a party shall set a date for members of the party to meet in caucus in their respective towns. The date shall be between September 10 and September 30, inclusive, in each odd-numbered year.
(b) At least 14 days before the date set for the caucuses, the State chair shall mail or electronically mail a notice of the date and purpose of the caucuses to each town clerk and to each town and county chair of the party. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 63; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2303. Town chair to give notice
(a) The town chair or, if unavailable or if the records of the Secretary of State show there is no chair, any three voters of the town shall arrange to hold a caucus on the day designated by the State chair, in some public place within the town and shall set the hour of the caucus.
(b)(1) At least five days before the day of the caucus, the town chair shall post a notice of the date, purpose, time, and place of the caucus in the town clerk’s office and in at least one other public place in town.
(2) In towns of 5,000 or more population, he or she shall also publish the notice:
(A) in a newspaper having general circulation in the town; or
(B) in a nonpartisan electronic news media website or online forum that specializes in news of the State or the community.
(c) If three voters arrange to call the caucus, the voters shall designate one person among them to perform the duties prescribed in subsection (b) of this section for the town chair. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1981, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 64; 2017, No. 50, § 6; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2304. Town caucus
(a)(1) At the time and place set for the town caucus, the voters of the party residing in the town shall meet in caucus and proceed to elect a town committee, consisting of such number of voters of the town as the caucus deems necessary, to serve during the following two years or until their successors are elected or appointed.
(2) Additional members of a town committee may be elected by the town committee at any meeting, and may be eligible to vote on matters before the town committee at that meeting or at the next meeting, as determined by the members of the committee before the election.
(b) The voter checklist used by the caucus shall be the most recent checklist approved by the board of civil authority. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2305. First meeting of town committee
(a)(1) The first meeting of the town committee shall be held immediately following adjournment of the caucus.
(2) At this meeting, members of the town committee shall elect committee officers and delegates to the county committee.
(b) All officers and other members of the town committee and all delegates to the county committee shall be voters of the town. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2306. Procedure upon failure to hold caucus
If the voters of the party residing in any town fail to hold a caucus on the day designated by the State chair, any three or more voters of the party residing in the town may call and hold a caucus at any time thereafter, in the manner provided in sections 2303 through 2305 of this chapter. Those voters calling the caucus shall designate one person among them to perform the duties prescribed in section 2303 for the town chair. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2307. Certification of officers and county committee delegates
(a) Within 72 hours after the caucus, the chair and secretary of the town committee shall submit to the chairs of the State and county committees a copy of the notice calling the meeting and a certified list of the names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and e-mails of the officers and members of the town committee and of the delegates to the county committee.
(b) A committee is not considered organized until a certificate of organization is filed by the State committee with the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2313 of this chapter.
(c) The Secretary of State shall furnish forms for this purpose to the chair of the State committee of a political party. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2308. Composition of county committee
(a) The number of delegates to the county committee that each town caucus is entitled to elect shall be apportioned by the State committee, based upon the number of votes cast for the party’s candidate for Governor in the last election, provided that each town caucus shall be entitled to elect at least two delegates.
(b) Delegates to the county committee shall be voters of the town, but need not be members of the town committee.
(c) Delegates shall serve for two years following their election or until their successors are elected or appointed. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2309. First meeting of county committee
(a)(1) The chair of the State committee shall set a date for the first meeting of each county committee.
(2) The State chair shall notify the chairs of the county committees of the date of the meeting.
(3)(A) The chair of the county committee shall set the hour and place of the meeting and shall notify all delegates-elect by mail or electronic mail not less than 10 days prior to the meeting.
(B) If the chair of the county committee receives notice that a town committee within the county has organized 10 or fewer days before the date of the first meeting of the county committee, the chair shall notify the newly elected members within 48 hours of receiving notice of the organized town committee.
(b)(1) At the time and place set for the meeting, the delegates shall proceed to elect their officers and perfect an organization of the county committee for the ensuing two years.
(2) All officers and other members of the county committee and all delegates to the State committee shall be voters of the county. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 65; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2310. Election of State committee
(a)(1) The chair of the county committee shall be a member of the State committee.
(2) Each county committee shall be entitled to elect at least two additional members of the State committee. These delegates need not be members of the county committee.
(3) If the rules or bylaws of a State committee provide for apportionment of additional members of the State committee to come from the county, the county committee also shall elect those additional members.
(b) All county committee members and officers and all persons elected to the State committee shall be voters in the county from which they are elected.
(c) County committee members and delegates to the State committee shall serve for two years following their election or until their successors are elected or appointed. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2007, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 21, 2008; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2311. Certification of county officers and State committee members
(a) Within 72 hours of the first meeting of the county committee, its chair and secretary shall submit to the chair of the State committee a copy of the notice calling the meeting and a certified list of the names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and e-mails of the officers of the county committee and of the members elected by the county committee to the State committee.
(b) A committee is not considered organized until a certificate of organization is filed by the State committee with the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2313 of this chapter.
(c) The Secretary of State shall prescribe and furnish forms for this purpose. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 9; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2312. First meeting of the State committee
(a) The chair of the State committee shall name an hour and place of meeting, at which time the members-elect of the State committee shall meet and perfect an organization of the State committee for the ensuing two years.
(b) The chair of the State committee shall notify all members-elect of the State committee in writing, at least 10 days before the day set for the meeting. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2313. Filing of certificate of organization
(a)(1) Within 10 days after the first meeting of the State committee of a party, the chair and secretary shall file in the office of the Secretary of State a certificate stating that the party has completed its organization for the ensuing two years and has substantially complied with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) However, no State committee shall be eligible to file a certificate of organization unless it has town committees organized in at least 30 towns in this State and county committees organized in at least seven counties by January 1 of the year of the general election.
(b) The certificate of organization shall:
(1) set forth the names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and e-mails of the officers and members of the State committee, together with the counties that they represent;
(2) contain a listing of the towns and counties in which committees have organized;
(3) designate, in not more than three words, the name by which the party shall be identified on any Australian ballot; and
(4) be accompanied by a copy of the notice calling the meeting.
(c) The Secretary of State shall prescribe and furnish the form to be used for this purpose.
(d) Upon receipt of a certificate of organization, the Secretary of State promptly shall notify all persons who have registered with the Secretary of State asking to be notified of such filings.
(e)(1) Within 10 days, the Secretary of State shall accept a certificate of organization if it appears to be valid on its face or reject it if it is not.
(2) The Secretary of State may reject a certificate of organization if the political or other name is not substantially different from the name of any organized political party.
(3) When a certificate is rejected, the Secretary of State promptly shall notify the chair and secretary of the committee to inform them in writing of the reasons for rejection.
(f) A committee is not considered organized until the material required by this section has been filed and accepted. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1983, No. 90, § 3, eff. April 29, 1983; 2001, No. 5, § 16; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2314. Officers required
Every committee of a political party is required to elect a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer, who need not be members of the committee at the time of their election, but who become members, with full voting rights, upon their election. A committee may also elect from among its members such other officers as it deems appropriate to its work. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 9.)
§ 2315. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 10.
§ 2316. Repealed. 2019, No. 67, § 9.
§ 2317. Voters not to participate in more than one party
A voter shall not vote in a town, county, or State caucus of more than one party in the same 12-month period, nor shall any voter simultaneously hold membership on the committees of more than one political party. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
§ 2318. Organization of minor political parties
A minor political party may organize in the manner set forth in this subchapter or in another manner that its members deem appropriate. Minor political parties shall comply with the filing requirements of sections 2307, 2311 to the extent applicable, and 2313 of this chapter, except that they need not be organized in 30 towns or in seven counties. They shall also comply with the procedural requirements of sections 2303 through 2306 and 2313 of this title, but need not comply with other procedural requirements in sections 2301, 2302, 2308 through 2310, and 2312 of this title. Minor political parties shall also comply with sections 2314 through 2317 of this title. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 12.)
§ 2319. Party conventions for platforms
On or before the fourth Tuesday in September in each even-numbered year, upon the call of t
he chair of the State committee of the party, a party platform convention of each organized political party shall be held to make and adopt the platform of the party. (Added 1979, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 67, § 9.)
https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/17/049
Title 17 : Elections
Chapter 049 : Nominations
Subchapter 002 : NOMINATION BY PARTY COMMITTEE
(Cite as: 17 V.S.A. § 2381)
§ 2381. Applicability of subchapter
(a) A candidate may also be nominated and have the candidate’s name printed on the general election ballot in accordance with the provisions set forth in this subchapter, in the following instances:
(1) In case of a vacancy on the general election ballot occasioned by death, removal, or withdrawal of a candidate, or the failure of a major political party to nominate a candidate by primary;
(2) In case a minor political party desires to nominate a candidate for any office for which major political parties nominate candidates by primary or for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States;
(3) In case of nomination for the office of justice of the peace, in the event that such nomination has not already been made by caucus as provided in section 2413 of this chapter.
(b) In no event may any committee nominate a candidate or candidates for statewide office under this subchapter unless the political party has town committees organized in at least 10 towns in this State in accordance with procedures in chapter 45 of this title.
Frustrated with attempts to contact VT Sec. of State Elections Division!
Well, I emailed the Vermont Secretary of State Elections Division and they are too busy or out of the office right now to respond. I called and the phone rang 12 times, no answer, they probably have caller I.D. I called again and got lucky on the 13th ring, and was told they are out of the office. I asked for a name, and was given a name of an attorney who is no longer listed as working there. Then I was told he’d be able to respond to my questions in a few days. Hmmm…. Sounds very Vermontish.
I’m back at square one. I decided to make a platform, even though Vermont Title 17 says that should be done in an even numbered year. NO ONE is going to join my proposed political party if they don’t know what I’m thinking about!
So, here goes, my platform, like it or not, join or not. I only have a week left, because if I can find 4 Vermont voters in each of 10 Vermont towns, then I still have to notify town clerks of dates for caucus and meetings 14 days before the end of September.
The SNOWBALL Party!
http://crisericson.com
If you are a Vermont registered voter and you want to help start a new political party in Vermont please email crisericson9@gmail.com and put “new party” in the subject heading. We need 4 Vermont voters in each of 10 Vermont towns immediately, by September 13 2025, to qualify to organize this month!
THE SNOWBALL POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORM: We’ll throw out some snowballs of ideas, and if enough Vermont voters like them, we can roll them into snowmen! We will toss out the best ideas and the voters of Vermont can choose to play ball with us on election day 2026!
It is time to stop the leaders of the State of Israel from committing ongoing genocide against innocent civilian Palestinians, including children and babies, in GAZA. The majority of Vermont voters want to stop funding Israel. We don’t give military funding, bombs and jets, to Native American Indian tribes to take their land back from us.
It is time to make marijuana cannabis legal under federal law. The battle isn’t over, medical marijuana patients from Vermont can’t travel to some states to visit friends and family where marijuana cannabis is still a crime. Beware what state you help send your kids to college or university to!
It is time to stop giving corporations hard earned taxpayer dollars as “subsidies” with no shares of profits to taxpayers who are paying for the corporate welfare. Your tax dollars are taken out of your paycheck and sent to the I.R.S. and then the U.S. Congress votes to give the fruits of your labor, your hard earned tax dollars, to corporations for free as “SUBSIDIES” and they produce products they sell internationally for huge profits, profits for themselves, and they give us nothing in return. That is a form of modern day slavery. We demand a return on investment of our tax dollars, a share of the profits like stock dividends.
When our hard earned taxpayer dollars are used for medical research, we-the-people should have ownership rights in the resulting U.S. Patents for the prescription drugs and medical devices. We have to stop allowing the U.S. Congress to fund medical research through the N.I.H. unless, dollar for dollar, we receive a share of profits like stock dividends.
When our hard earned taxpayer dollars are used for military research, the newly designed military products are sold world wide by Defense Contractors to our Allies. Because the Defense Contractors and Lead Researchers currently make all the profits, under the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, using our hard earned tax dollars, they become more and more greedy and conspire to expand wars world wide. If we got a share of their corporate profits as dividends, we would think twice about going to war and profiting from killing people in foreign countries. They don’t think about it at all. The CEOs of Defense Corporations use some of their profits to fund U.S. Congress people and U.S. Senators who agree to vote for more war.
WE DEMAND SHARES OF PROFITS, like stock dividends, FROM CORPORATIONS WHICH RECEIVE SUBSIDIES, and we will use them to solve all of our needs like UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME, housing, food, medical care, clean water, ending air pollution, better education and after school programs, better care for senior citizens and disabled persons, providing homes for homeless unsheltered people, providing free wifi everywhere, home heating fuel, food assistance, free bus and train transportation, and a long list of needs that we need money for.
People in Vermont are suffering paying taxes out of their little paychecks in order to make the rich even richer because our tax dollars go to the I.R.S. and then the U.S. Congress votes to give them out as subsidies. Government is crooked. Let’s fix that!
http://crisericson.com
CRIS ERICSON
crisericson9@gmail.com