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vtsecretaryofstate.bsky.social
The President stated that when it comes to election administration, the states must do what he tells us - the U.S. Constitution says otherwise. Nearly 2/3 of Vermonters voted by mail in 2024, and we have seen consistently higher voter turnout since 2020. Vote by mail is here to stay.
Text of statement over American flag background reads: Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas Responds to President's Statement Attacking Mail-In Voting, "Voting Machines." “The President appears to be confused about several key facts when it comes to American elections. For one, he says in his post that when it comes to election administration, states must do what he tells us. As I detailed in a statement just last week, the U.S. Constitution gives the states control over elections and gives only Congress the power to pass laws regulating elections; it does not empower the president or executive branch to do so (U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 4). This means that, in the absence of a law passed by Congress, state law dictates all matters around elections. Either way, our country is not set up to operate by executive fiat – our founding fathers were quite clear about that. Mail-in ballots are not only a secure method of voting, they also greatly increase voter turnout by allowing more voters to cast their ballot from the comfort of their home, removing the constraints of work and caretaking schedules and transportation. While I, of course, love to get out and vote at the polls on Election Day, many Vermonters find it more convenient and accessible to vote by mail – and that shows in the numbers." Continued Text over American flag background reads: ...continued: "Since Vermont’s first universal vote by mail general election in 2020, we’ve seen more than 70% of Vermonters vote in presidential election years – and the majority of those votes were mail-in ballots. I’ve heard personally from members of all three of Vermont’s political parties who’ve told me how important it is for them to be able to receive and cast their ballot from home. I want more voters casting their ballots in elections, not less. This strengthens our democracy. Now, as for the ‘voting machines’ that the president referenced, it’s unclear whether he’s referencing the vote counting machines, known as ‘tabulators,’ used in every Vermont district that has more than 1,000 voters. He did mention that he likes paper ballots – I do too. Per state law, we use paper ballots and those are kept for 22 months after a federal election. In truth, 98% of Americans cast paper ballots. Our secure, air-gapped tabulators are faster and more accurate than hand-counting. As Vermont’s Chief Elections Officer, I won’t tolerate any effort to undermine the integrity and accessibility of our democracy. To the extent that the President seeks to overstep his authority, I will continue to work with Attorney General Clark to protect Vermonters’ rights. The Attorney General and I will also continue to coordinate with other states that are committed to preserving the constitutional balance of power.” Bar graph shows voter turnout levels in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 elections. Emphasizes the percentage of the overall turnout that was absentee or vote by mail. Through 2018, percentages were in the 25% range. Since 2020, they've risen to the 63% range.
August 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM