General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 8

Voters across the country on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, will decide races for the positions of U.S. President and Vice President. The Vermont general election ballot contains six selections, plus write-in. 

They are (in order shown on the ballot):

• Democratic Party - Hillary Clinton of New York and Tim Kaine of Virginia, 
• Independent Party - Rocky De La Fuente of Florida and Michael A. Steinberg of Florida, 
• Libertarian Party - Gary Johnson of New Mexico and William F. Weld of Massachusetts, 
• Liberty Union Party - Gloria Lariva of California and Eugene Puryear of Washingon D.C., 
• Green Party - Jill Stein of Massachusetts and Ajuma Baraka of Georgia, and 
• Republican Party - Donald J. Trump of New York and Michael R. Pence of Indiana. 

Vermont also permits voters to write in the name of any person in a write-in space provided for each race in the election.

There are five named choices in Vermont's U.S. Senate Race: Liberty Union Party - Pete Diamondstone of Dummerston, United States Marijuana Party - Cris Ericson of Chester, Democratic Party - Patrick Leahy of Middlesex (incumbent), Republican Party - Scott Milne of Pomfret, Independent Party - Jerry Trudell of Derby.

Two named individuals compete for the position of Representative to the U.S. Congress: Liberty Union Party  - Erica Clawson of Charleston, Democratic Party - Peter Welch of Norwich (incumbent).

The offices of Vermont Governor and Lieutenant Governor also will be decided. There are three named Governor candidates on the ballot: Liberty Union Party - Bill "Spaceman" Lee of Craftsbury, Democratic Party - Sue Minter of Waterbury, Republican Party - Phil Scott of Berlin. There are also three named Lieutenant Governor candidates: Republican Party - Randy Brock of Swanton, Liberty Union Party - Boots Wardinski of Newbury, Prog./Dem. Party David Zuckerman of Hinesburg.

The image below shows the contents of the ballot, including other state and local races, that will be filled out by Whiting, Vermont, residents. The sample was obtained through the Secretary of the State's Office.

The actual ballot will contain instructions. Justice of the Peace
candidates appear on the reverse of the actual ballot.

Busy March 1 for VT voters

Voters will be kept busy on March 1.

Democratic and Republican Presidential Primaries will be held during the day. Vermont balloting is part of Super Tuesday, when a dozen states and one territory express their preferences for party nominees for President. In addition to Vermont, the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia will hold primaries. Alaska Republicans will caucus. Democrats in Colorado and American Samoa will indicate their Presidential preferences through caucuses.
(See Burlington Free Press story.)

Australian ballot voting on the 2016-17 Otter Valley Unified Union School District budget of $22.6 million will be held in district towns. Whiting voters will vote at the Whiting Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The annual school meeting for the Whiting Town School District will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the Town Hall. Attendees will consider a $633,161 spending plan.

The annual Town Meeting will immediately follow the school meeting. A proposed municipal budget of $365,602 will be decided. Spending in the plan has increased by $65,350 over the 2015 budget. The amount funded through local taxes is to decrease, however, by an amount of $16,842. The town selectmen anticipates that the town tax rate will drop from $0.53 to $0.49.

In addition, the Town Meeting will elect the following officers:

• Select board member for a term of three years, 
• Lister for a term of three years,
• Auditor for a term of three years,
• Collector of delinquent taxes
• Library trustee for a term of three years
• Road commissioner
• First constable
• Second constable
• Town Juror
• Town Agent