I bought the domain! http://snowballparty.org but I haven’t found 4 people in each of 10 Vermont towns to start a new minor political party yet. I started writing a platform. If you agree with it, please contact me Cris Ericson crisericson9@gmail.com
I’m still trying to get a straight answer from the Vermont Secretary of State Elections Division about how to legally start a new minor political party in VT.
This is so frustrating. I bought the domain http://snowballparty.org and I have named my proposed political party the SNOWBALL party.
I have posted a Platform, because I believe in freedom of speech, even though under Title 17 V.S.A. Section 2319 a Platform is not adopted until an even numbered year.
Here’s the really confusing part: Title 17 V.S.A. Section 2318 says Minor political parties do not have to comply with 17 V.S.A. Section § 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.
BUT!!!
if you go to the VT Sec. of State https://sos.vermont.gov/
and tap Elections https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/
and tap Parties
https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/election-info-resources/parties/
and tap Party Organization Guidehttps://outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/Elections_Division/election_info_resources/parties/guide_political_party_organization_vermont_2019.pdf
“Town Caucus:
1. The state chair of each major and minor party must set the date for town caucus. The
date must be between September 10 and September 30.”
THAT IS IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION
to 17 V.S.A. 2318 which says minor parties do not have to comply with 17 V.S.A. 2302 which states:Section § 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.
SO WHICH IS IT?
DO I, or do I not, have to call a caucus meeting between
Sept. 10 and Sept. 30th?
Do I have longer to find 4 people in each of 10 towns
to form a new minor political party in Vermont?
I submitted a video about forming a new minor political party to CCTV in Burlington, VT on August 20, 2025 but they have just recently sent me a notice that they will air it.
“Town Meeting TV
Mon, Sep 8,
email to me,…
It will be airing this week at the following times on Burlington Telecom channel 217 / Comcast channel 1087:
Wednesday 9/10 @ 3:00PM
Saturday 9/13 @ 5:30AM & 11:30AM
Best wishes, Jordan”
HOW LONG DO I HAVE to find 4 people in each of 10 Vermont
towns to organize a Minor political party?
Does party organization for a minor political party have to be completed in September of an odd numbered year (2025).
Does this violate my freedom of speech and freedom of association to put time limits for minor party organization in Vermont?
Why do people think this is a “progressive” state?
So far, no clear answer from the Vermont Secretary of State Elections
Division, Sean Sheehan and Mark Houle.
Sean.Sheehan@vermont.gov and Mark.Houle@vermont.gov
Attorney Mark Houle, VT Sec. of State Elections Division, Just Called to complain about my post!
Attorney Mark Houle, Vermont Secretary of State Elections Division,
just called on the telephone to complain about my post.
He said I CAN NOT HAVE A PLATFORM UNTIL I HAVE A PARTY organized and CERTIFIED.
I said I have been banging my head up against the wall for 2 months because
people tell me it makes no sense to ask them to join a political party unless they KNOW what the Platform is first!
He kept telling me over and over again, the PARTY has to be organized first,
and then the party is allowed to make a platform!
I kept repeating that no one wants to join a political party UNLESS
they know what the platform is first!
He suggested I change my website to use the phrase “my vision for the party is”
instead of the word Platform
which he says I can not use until the party is organized!
Cris Ericson (802)875-4038
Attorney Mark Houle sends Cris Ericson an email to follow up telephone call!
Mark Houle, follows up our telephone conversation with his email to make it all clear.
Houle, Mark
4:09 PM September 9, 2025
to Cris Ericson, Sean, SOS
Hello Cris:
Under 17 V.S.A. § 2318, a minor party “MAY” organize in the manner set forth […] or in another manner its members deem appropriate. Specifically, it precludes the necessity to follow 2301, 2302, and 2312. These three statutes provide the September timeframe, and the two-year and biennial time frame. Therefore, my best reading of the law is there is no prescribed time period for a Minor Party to organize. The filing requirement of 17 V.S.A. § 2313(a)(2) does apply and requires a filing by January 1st, 2026.
A party has no designation without ballot access. Party is a notice provision of that tells voter who a party is and what that designation means on a ballot. If a party did not have ballot access, there is no notice provided to a voter and no protection of the party name on the ballot. Therefore, a party must organize in ten towns under 17 V.S.A. § 2381(b).
Under 17 V.S.A. § 2319, to have a party platform, a party has to be organized. i.e. if the party is not organized, there is no party. If there is no party, it cannot have a party platform. Under 17 V.S.A. § 2313(f), a party is not organized until they have submitted their organization to the Secretary of State Election Division, and we have accepted it. A possible alternative for this is to present a personal vision. You as an individual could not set a ‘party platform’ or speak for a party that does not exist, it is not the “Cris Ericson Platform” but it is the Party’s platform. The organized party votes on and collaborates to set a party platform. You may conduct a platform convention once you are organized and we have accepted your organization and must do so on or before September 22nd, 2026. 17 V.S.A. § 2319.
Summary:
(1) Does a new minor party have to organize in September of an odd numbered year, or will anytime do?
Anytime before January 1st would work.
(2) Can a new minor party organize and be certified as a new minor party with fewer than 10 towns, even though 10 towns are required to put a candidate on the ballot?
Organization in ten towns and ballot access are required.
(3) Can a new minor party have a platform before being organized?
No, there is no party to speak or have a platform. It is not organized.
You can have a personal vision or something similar.
Statutory:
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.
17 V.S.A. § 2313. Filing of certificate of organization […]
(a)(2) However, no State committee shall be eligible to file a certificate of organization unless it has town committees organized […] by January 1 of the year of the general election. […]
(f) A committee is not considered organized until the material required by this section has been filed and accepted.
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.
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.
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.
*The information provided is intended solely for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. This office is not responsible for any actions you take or do not take because of the guidance provided.
**You may want to seek legal advice from an attorney representing you as an individual or organization or a legal entity that advises your organization.
Sincerely,
Mark
Mark P Houle, Esq.
Elections Administrator III
Vermont Secretary of State’s Office
128 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-1101
mark.houle@vermont.gov
https://sos.vermont.gov/elections