Voter Turnout and Survey Results for Australian Ballot

This Town Meeting Jericho will take Floor Votes on whether to adopt all Budget Articles by Australian ballot and a separate vote on whether to adopt all Public Questions by Australian ballot. In this post, we will share Jericho turnout statistics and survey results.

Town Meeting occurs on the first Tuesday of March starting at 9 am. At Town Meeting residents gather for 3-6 hours to discuss or amend and then take a floor vote on Town Budget and Public Questions one at a time. Floor Voting is public, voice votes among those present and occurs throughout the 3-6 hour meeting. On the same Tuesday (or earlier using absentee ballot) Town Officials and School Budget are voted on by Australian ballot. Voting by Australian Ballot takes 5-15 minutes: voters mark their choices privately on uniform printed ballots anytime from 7 am to 7 pm.

The VT Secretary of State reports Jericho voter turnout statistics as follows

  • Floor Vote turnout consistently averages 6.6% (266 voters)
  • Australian ballot averages 19% (758 voters) for non-presidential election years and 49% (2003 voters) for presidential election

The Jericho Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee (JDEIC) conducted a survey of Jericho residents about Town Meeting and Australian Ballot. Of 72 Survey responses:

  • About a third of those respondents regularly attend Town Meeting and a little more than a third had never attended.
  • 56% reported finding it difficult to attend Town Meeting because of work, family and other obligations or for health or disability reasons.
  • 90% of respondents agreed that voting by Australian ballot would provide greater access to town decision making
  • 74% said they’d be more likely to vote on Town Articles and the Town Budget if they could vote by Australian ballot
  • 14% of respondents agreed that Australian ballot would negatively impact Jericho’s democratic process.

The JDEIC Town Meeting Survey also asked respondents to share concerns and benefits for moving away from Floor Votes and to Australian Ballot. Overall, concerns were primarily around losing the ability to discuss and directly amend articles immediately prior to voting. Another concern was that those voting on town issues would be less informed. Overall, benefits included greater and more equitable participation and representation, the privacy of the vote, and the ease of voting by ballot.

As we approach Town Meeting Day, the JDEIC encourages the voters of Jericho to reflect on these issues and engage in conversation. See the FAQ section on the right side of this web page for additional information and details regarding Town Meeting.

In our next post, the JDEIC will share what Town Meeting looks like for towns that have switched to Australian Ballot for BOTH Town Budget and Public Questions.