Data Request for Local Ballot Initiatives/Referenda (Secretary of State, Records Management)

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The following information was submitted via the Records Officer request form:

Name: Jimin Han
Requester Email Address: requests@muckrock.com
Describe your records request: To Whom It May Concern: Pursuant to the Vermont Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records: I am requesting data on local ballot initiatives/referenda that took place in the state since 1972. Specifically, I need the following information to be included in the data. 1. Text of the ballot initiative/referendum 2. Local government where the election took place. 3. County where the local government is located 4. Election date 5. Result of election (votes for, votes against, pass/fail) 6. Threshold to pass (50%, two-thirds, etc) This website from California provides a good example of the type of data I am requesting: https://data.ca.gov/dataset/election-data/resource/67e83a65-2b55-41ec-9420-b33b666d4711 The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not. Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires. Sincerely, Jimin Han Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Creator, sender or recipient of record if known:
Date or date range of record if known:
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Hello,

The Secretary of State's office does not generally produce or acquire documentation of local ballot initiatives.

We do receive from towns copies of their annual reports, which would typically contain the town's annual meeting warning of articles to be voted. You can view the electronically-submitted annual reports we have received here: https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/file/municipal-reports/. That link also lists the annual reports that have been submitted to us in paper form.

For information about the articles put before the town voters identified in these annual town reports, as well as articles that were voted at special meetings of the town voters, I think you would need to contact each town directly.

In case it helps, here is some additional info about ratifying proposed amendments to the Vermont Constitution<https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/constitution/amending-the-constitution/> and other statewide referenda in Vermont<https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/general-assembly/referendum/>.

Please let me know if you have further questions.
Best regards,
Jenny Prosser

Jenny R. Prosser
General Counsel & Director of Municipal Assistance
Vermont Secretary of State's Office