Important Dates for Town Meeting
The below is a snapshot of key dates provided by the Vermont Secretary of State Elections Division related to the 2026 Town Meeting. More dates, statues, and information can be found on the SOS website at: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/elections-calendar.
Key forms, including the Local Candidate Nomination Petition and Consent to Candidate form, can be found under “Links & Forms” section on the SOS website at: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/election-info-resources/candidates/local-office-candidates/
Please note, as of December 20, 2025 Windham has 342 registered votes.
Thursday, January 15th:
Last day for voters to file a petition with the town clerk to have an article appear on the ballot. Petition must contain signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in the municipality. 17 V.S.A. § 2642(a)(3)(A)
Friday, January 16th:
If petitions turned in do not conform to statute, clerks must notify the petitioners in writing within 24 hours why the petition does not conform. Petitioners must return supplementary petitions within 48 hours of being notified by the clerk. 17 V.S.A. § 2642(a)(3)(A)
Thursday, January 22nd:
Last day for the Board of Civil Authority to designate polling places for town meeting day. 17 V.S.A. § 2501(a)
40 Days Prior to Town Meeting:
First day a clerk may post warnings for town meeting. The warning shall also be posted on the municipality’s website if it is regularly updated 17 V.S.A. § 2641(a)
Monday, January 26th:
For Australian Ballot positions, petition and Consent of Candidate forms for town offices must be filed with the municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. 17 V.S.A. § 2681(a)(3)
Wednesday, January 28th:
For Australian Ballot positions, a candidate may withdraw by notifying the municipal clerk in writing no later than 5:00 p.m.
30 Days Before the Election:
This is the last day that the warning and notice for the town meeting may be posted. The warning shall also be posted on the municipality’s website if it is regularly updated.
Wednesday, February 11:
In Australian ballot towns, ill or physically disabled voters who have requested absentee ballots may be delivered ballots as soon as ballots are ready. Members of the BCA, or the town clerk if designated by the BCA, may appoint BCA members of opposite parties to deliver the ballots. 17 V.S.A. § 2538
10 Days Prior to Town Meeting:
Clerks & Auditors – Must distribute town meeting warning in annual town report (at least 10 days prior to town meeting) or other written form by this date to all postal patrons in the municipality to avoid publishing warning in newspaper (if publishing in the newspaper, that must happen at least 5 days before town meeting). If the town has voted to instead only receive notice of the report’s availability, that notice must be provided to voters at least 30 days before annual meeting. 24 V.S.A. § 1682, 17 V.S.A. § 2641(b)