§ 1811. Governor to call
Whenever the Congress of the United States shall submit to the several states an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States, and pursuant to Article V of such Constitution
shall provide that such amendment be acted upon by conventions in the several states,
the Governor, within 60 days after such amendment has been officially transmitted
from the United States to this State, shall issue a call for the election of delegates
to a convention to act upon such amendment. He or she shall set the date for the
election of delegates and the date and hour for the holding of such convention.
§ 1812. Composition of convention
The convention shall be composed of 14 delegates elected at large by the qualified
voters of Vermont. It shall meet in the Senate chamber of the capitol at Montpelier.
The date for the holding of such convention shall be not less than 20 nor more than
30 days after the election of delegates.
§ 1813. Election of delegates
The election of delegates shall take place not less than three nor more than 12 months
after the call, but in no case shall it occur within 40 days of the date fixed by
law for a general or primary election.
§ 1814. Appointment of candidates for delegates
Not less than 30 days before the date of the election of delegates, the Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or in case
of incapacity of any one of them, the Secretary of State in his or her stead, shall
appoint and forthwith announce the names of 28 candidates for delegates, such candidates
being in their opinion representative citizens of Vermont. Fourteen of these candidates
shall be persons who assent to the placing of their names on the ballots as “For Ratification,”
and 14 shall be persons who assent to the placing of their names on the ballot as
“Against Ratification.” One candidate for ratification and one candidate against ratification
shall be appointed from each county in the State.
§ 1815. Acceptance of candidacy
On accepting such designation each candidate shall file his or her acceptance as follows:
“I do hereby accept this appointment as candidate for delegate to the convention to
be held on the ............ day of ........................... ; and assent to the placing of my name on the ballot as For Ratification or Against
Ratification.
Signed ......................................... ”
§ 1816. Form of ballot
The form of the ballot to be used shall be as follows:
DELEGATES TO CONVENTION TO VOTE UPON THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES:
(Here shall follow the text of the proposed amendment.)
Instructions
To vote for all the delegates who stand For Ratification, make an (X) in the square
at the head of the column marked NAMES FOR RATIFICATION. To vote for all the delegates
who stand Against Ratification, make a cross (X) in the square at the head of the
column marked NAMES AGAINST RATIFICATION. If you do not wish to vote for every candidate
in one column, make a cross (X) opposite the name of the candidates of your choice,
not to exceed fourteen in all. If you do not wish to vote for the candidates named
in the column “For Ratification” or the candidates named in the column “Against Ratification”
you may write in the names of other delegates not to exceed fourteen in number in
the spaces provided below. Ballots on which more than fourteen names are marked will
be considered defective.
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§ 1817. Endorsement of ballots
Upon each ballot shall be endorsed the words “Official Ballot,” followed by the name
of the town in which it is to be used, the date of the election, and a facsimile of
the signature of the Secretary of State with his or her official title.
§ 1818. Checklist to be used
The check list used in the last preceding general election shall apply, but may be
revised as now provided by law for check lists used at general elections. The polls
for this election shall open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
§ 1819. Canvassing board
The Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary
of State shall canvass the ballots, declaring elected the 14 candidates who have received
the greatest number of votes and the Secretary of State shall publish the results.
The Secretary of State, upon the completion of the canvass, shall mail or deliver
in person to each delegate so elected a notice thereof and such delegates so elected
shall be members of the convention.
§ 1820. General election law to apply; expense of election
Expenses of such election shall be paid by the State or town as in the case of general
elections. The statutory provisions as to holding general elections, furnishing ballots,
instructions and forms, appointment and payment of election officers, filling of vacancies,
solicitation of voters at the polls, challenging of voters, manner of conducting elections,
counting and preserving the ballots and making returns thereof, and all other kindred
subjects shall apply to such elections insofar as they are consistent with this chapter,
it being the intent of this chapter to place such elections under the regulation and
protection of the laws relating to general elections.
§ 1821. Construction of chapter
The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so that the real will
of the voters shall not be defeated and so that the voters shall not be deprived of
their right because of informality or failure to comply with provisions of law as
to notice or conduct of the election or of certifying the results thereof.
§ 1822. Filling vacancies
In case of vacancies caused by death, disability, or resignation, the Governor shall
fill the vacancies by appointment.
§ 1823. Quorum; Secretary
A majority of the delegates shall constitute a quorum to do business, when convened
according to the provisions of this chapter. The Secretary of State shall be ex officio
Secretary of the convention and with the Chair of the convention, he or she shall
certify the vote of the convention to the Secretary of State of the United States.
§ 1824. Compensation
The compensation of each delegate shall be $10.00 and actual expenses.
§ 1825. Effect of congressional prescription of the manner of holding conventions
If, on or about the time of submitting any such amendment, Congress, in the resolution
submitting the same, or by statute, shall prescribe the manner in which the conventions
shall be constituted, the preceding provisions of this chapter shall be inoperative.
The convention shall be constituted and shall operate as the resolution or act of
Congress shall direct, and all officers of the State who may by the resolution or
statute be authorized or directed to take any action to constitute such a convention
for this State are hereby authorized and directed to act thereunder and in conformity
thereto, with the same force and effect as if acting under a statute of this State.