Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont S298: An act relating to voter protections
Status: Signed into law, March 19, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to voter protections. (S.298) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: * * * Voter Protections Act * * *.
From the chaptered text, June 8, 2026:
An act relating to voter protections. (S.298) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: * * * Voter Protections Act * * * Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE This act may be cited as the "Voter Protections Act of 2026." Sec. 2. 17 V.S.A. chapter 35 is amended to read: CHAPTER 35. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PURITY OF ELECTIONS * * * Subchapter 2. Penalties Upon Voters * * * § 1972. SHOWING BALLOT; INTERFERENCE WITH VOTER (a) A voter who, except in cases of assistance as provided in this title, allows his or her the voter's ballot to be seen by another person with an apparent intention of letting it be known how he or she the voter is about to vote or makes a false statement to the presiding officer at an election as to his or her the voter's inability to mark his or her the voter's ballot or places a distinguishing mark on his or her the voter's ballot or a person who interferes with a voter when inside the guard rail or who, within the building in which the voting is proceeding, endeavors to induce a voter to vote for a particular candidate, shall be fined $1,000.00. VT LEG #390170 v.1 No. 126 Page 2 of 8 (b) It shall be …
Sponsors
- Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D, Chittenden-Southeast District) · primary sponsor
- Rebecca White (D, Windsor District) · primary sponsor
- Philip Baruth (D, Chittenden-Central District)
- Seth Bongartz (D, Bennington District)
- Randolph Brock (R, Franklin District)
- Thomas Chittenden (D, Chittenden-Southeast District)
- Alison Clarkson (D, Windsor District)
- Ann Cummings (D, Washington District)
- Martine Gulick (D, Chittenden-Central District)
- Ruth Hardy (D, Addison District)
- Nader Hashim (D, Windham District)
- Virginia Lyons (D, Chittenden-Southeast District)
Latest actions
- : Senate Message: Signed by Governor [June 8, 2026]
- : Signed by Governor on [June 8, 2026]
- : Delivered to Governor on [June 2, 2026]
- : Title amended
- : As passed by Senate and House
- : House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment
- : Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment concurred in
- : Action Calendar: Action postponed until [May 20, 2026]
- : Rep. [Waters Evans of Charlotte] moved to postpone action until [May 20, 2026], which was agreed to
- : Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment
Votes
- 3rd reading ordered on roll call [Passed -- Needed 14 of 28 to Pass -- Yeas = 28, Nays = 0] (March 13, 2026): 28 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is S298?
- S298 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to voter protections.
- What does S298 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to voter protections. (S.298) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: * * * Voter Protections Act * * *.
- What is the status of S298?
- Signed into law as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: Senate Message: Signed by Governor [June 8, 2026] (May 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored S298?
- Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D, Chittenden-Southeast District), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S298?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.298
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.