Jericho's Australian Ballot History

Since 1962, the Town of Jericho has been using the Australian ballot to elect its Town and School Officers. And for the last 10 years, all Jericho school budgets have used the Australian ballot. During the peak COVID pandemic years (2021 and 2022), Jericho used the Australian ballot to approve the Town Budget and pass Public Questions to keep residents safe.*

Use of Australian Ballot in Other VT Towns

2023 data from the Vermont Secretary of State's Office indicates:

  • 77 of towns voted by ballot for their town budgets

  • 97 of towns voted by ballot for their Town Public Questions

  • 8 towns use ballots depending on the type of question

  • Note, the voting method for town budgets w16 towns was not available.

  • Several others voted to switch to Australian ballot starting in 2024.

View a map of which towns vote for their Town Budget by Australian ballot

View a map of which towns vote for their Town Public Questions by Australian ballot

Public Participation in Towns that Use Australian Ballot

The Jericho Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee contacted towns of similar size to Jericho that have moved to Australian ballot for Town Budgets and Public Questions to see what they do on Town Meeting. Most towns that we contacted host informational meetings prior to voting. These meetings are key in helping residents to make informed decisions. And, they also serve as a community-building event with discussion, camaraderie, and food.

Using Australian ballot does not eliminate public participation in regarding the town budget and public questions. Rather it shifts when participation takes place. While the Selectboard has always encouraged the public to attend their meetings throughout the year, it will be even more important to encourage residents to weigh during budget development.

Examples of Vermont Towns & Use of Australian Ballot

TOWN OF HINESBURG | Population: ~4,700 | Registered Voters: 4,187
In 2021Hinesburg voted to adopt all budget articles and public questions by Australian ballot. Previously, they held floor votes the evening before Town Meeting and voted on elected positions and the school budget by Australian ballot on Town Meeting day. They have replaced the floor vote the evening before with an informational meeting.

TOWN OF CASTLETON | Population: ~4,497 | Registered Voters: 2,801
Castleton voted to adopt the Australian ballot in 1984, effective in 1985. In May of 1997, they voted to list every line item for the budget on the Australian ballot, making for a long ballot! They hold an informational meeting the night before.

TOWN OF BRANDON | Population: ~4,100 | Registered Voters: 2,830
Brandon has been using Australian ballots since the early 90s. They have a meeting on the Monday evening before voting day. In 2014, there was a petition to go back to voting from the floor, but it was soundly rejected.

TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY | Population: ~5,815 | Registered Voters: 4,742
St. Johnsbury moved to Australian Ballot approximately 20 years ago. They hold public budget meetings prior to voting. Attendance tends to be low.

TOWN OF LYNDON | Population: ~5,617 | Registered Voters: 3,742
Prior to COVID, Lyndon held Town Meeting to vote their budgets (Town & Highway) and public questions from the floor. Less than 100 people attended. During the last three years, they have held a hybrid informal meeting, which has low attendance.

* COVID in 2024

While Vermont is not seeing the same levels of hospitalizations or deaths as occurred in 2020 or 2021, there is currently a surge, with estimates that cases will continue to rise through mid-February. Columbia University Irving Medical Center projects (as reported in "Today") "1 in 3 Americans infected with COVID during this timeframe." This can lead to increases in long COVID, chronic illness, and more people missing work or important events, and immunocompromised people not being able to access essential services, like health care. We note this to bring awareness that many who are immunocompromised will not be able to exercise their right to vote at Town Meeting because they cannot take the chance of being exposed to COVID or other infectious diseases.