MONTPELIER — The Vermont House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill designed to strengthen protections against interference with voters and election officials, sending the measure to the state Senate for further consideration.
The legislation, H. 541, was sponsored by Representative Ian Goodnow (D-Windham) and Representative Kate Nugent (D-Chittenden) and passed without a roll call vote. Its supporters describe it as an update to existing state law to address gaps in election interference enforcement.
Under current Vermont law, a voter can be fined for attempting to show how they intend to vote or marking a ballot in a distinguishing way at the polling place. But those existing provisions focus narrowly on conduct inside polling stations and do not fully address broader forms of intimidation or interference outside of that context.
Key Provisions of H. 541
The bill expands criminal prohibitions on election interference by making it unlawful for any person to intentionally or recklessly intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to do any of those acts against:
- an individual for the purpose of impeding that person’s right to vote or influencing how they vote; or
- an election official, public servant, or public employee in order to obstruct the administration of an election.
Violators would face criminal penalties of up to two years in prison or a fine of as much as $2,000, or both.
Democratic Backing and Rationale
Rep. Goodnow, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the measure “sits at the nexus of two fundamental democratic principles: the right to vote unobstructed and the right to free political speech,” framing the legislation as critical to safeguarding the integrity of Vermont’s elections.
Supporters point out that while federal law prohibits certain kinds of voter and election official intimidation, those statutes do not always extend cleanly to state and local elections. The Vermont bill would explicitly fill that gap.
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and other election administrators testified during committee hearings earlier this session on the need for updated state protections. Officials from the Attorney General’s Office, Vermont Law School, and civil liberties advocates also participated in discussions about the scope and enforcement of the bill.
Next Steps
With passage in the House, H. 541 now moves to the Vermont Senate, where lawmakers will review the measure and consider any amendments before a final vote.
If enacted, the legislation would represent a significant expansion of Vermont’s election law aimed at deterring activities that could chill voter participation or compromise election administration.
Election Desk 
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