Are you ready to cast your vote?

ADDISON COUNTY — When you go to the polls next month or fill out the ballot that arrived in the mail from the Secretary of State’s Office, most of you will have to decide between competing candidates. Some will be saying things you like, some will be saying things you don’t. For many, parts of the pitch will be appealing, but others not so much.

Take your time, read what the candidates have to say here and give them your due consideration. It’s not easy to put yourself out there as a candidate for public office. So do your part and cast a vote.

Seven of the nine state representatives from Addison County are running for re-election, and both incumbent state senators are also on the ballot. Most of them face competition from a member of another party. Double check your Legislative district here.

As part of our election coverage, the Addison Independent has published stories on most of the challengers and we give space in the regular paper for updates from incumbents during the Legislative session, as well as for regular Legislative stories.

We have gathered together all of our 2024 election stories here for voters to go look at again.

To give local voters more information on where candidates stand on issues, we asked each candidate the same five questions, including a candidate’s choice option. See the list of questions in this Election Preview and then read the responses for the candidates in your district.

In addition to the county races, there are contested races for five Vermont’s Constitutional offices — governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor. Read this guide to learn more about those candidates. Plus, two-thirds of Vermont’s Congressional delegation will be on the ballot.

All Vermont residents who are registered to vote were sent a ballot at the beginning of the month. If you have not received one in the mail contact your town clerk. Vermonters may mail in their ballots, return them in a secure ballot box outside town offices, return them in person to your town clerk during regular office hours, or bring them with you to the polls to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5, before 7 p.m.

Vermont election officials say: Make a voting plan to ensure that you don’t experience any issues when casting your ballot.

To check on the status of your ballot, use Vermont’s online ballot tracking service at mvp.vermont.gov or contact your town clerk.

See who is on the ballot here.

So it’s Election Day, now what?

Read the Candidates’ Answers:

Read the full questions below or click here.

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Why aren’t there Q&As with every candidate on the ballot?

We decided to use the most of our space available to provide answers from the local legislative candidates who are running in contested elections. There are two local House districts that won’t see contests.

In Addison-1, which covers most of Middlebury and features two seats, incumbent Democrats Rep. Robin Scheu and Rep. Amy Sheldon are running unopposed.

Jim Casey of Hubbardton is the only candidate on the ballot in the Addison-Rutland House District, which encompasses the towns of Shoreham, Orwell, Whiting, Sudbury and Hubbardton. He is running as a Republican. Rep. Joe Andriano, D-Orwell, is not running for re-election.

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To give local voters a baseline for comparing candidates for the Legislature we asked each of them the same five questions. Our space and your time is finite, so we asked that they limit the number of words in each answers.

When you read the Q&As with the candidates, use these Qs to match up with their As. We let the candidates answer as they thought best, each giving their opinions on how to address the problems that Vermonters face. You can weigh the quality and veracity of the candidates’ answers for yourself.

Here is what we asked:

Candidate questions 2024

Qualification. What public service have you provided, and how has that prepared you to be a good legislator?

Education funding. Vermonters approved all of their local school budgets this year (eventually) but many were dismayed to see their education taxes rise considerably. Does Vermont need to change the way it funds school, and if so, how would you change it?

Housing. The lack of affordable housing in Vermont is attributed to many causes. What steps would you advocate for in the Legislature to ameliorate the problem?

Climate crisis. One of the more contentious issues the Legislature and Gov. Scott have sparred over is the Clean Heat Standard, and the Legislature will get another crack at approving a plan for implementing the law. Do you support this law and, if not, what should Legislators do instead to address the climate crisis other than throw up their hands?

Other priorities. Aside from education funding, housing and climate change, what is an issue you would address or a policy you would seek to implement as a lawmaker?