HARDWICK – Following a special town meeting last Tuesday, the Hardwick Select Board is charged with creating a process to “maximize engagement and democracy and to maintain an amendment process at town meetings.”
Coming after extended debate where many made the case for secret Australian balloting, while others made similarly impassioned arguments for traditional town meeting, most voters said the resolution offers the opportunity to carefully consider the Hardwick voting process.
Those who were solidly in favor of Australian balloting came away saying they saw the evening’s floor debate as an important community process while remaining committed to the equity and privacy offered by Australian balloting.
Other towns in Vermont have faced the same issues.
While debate from the floor of town meetings offers opportunities to revise and amend articles without summarily voting them up and down, secret Australian balloting offers convenience and access for those unable to attend a meeting for many reasons that include jobs, family responsibilities and disabilities
Australian balloting and the informational meeting process before it, does not offer the possibility of amendment.
The book “All Those in Favor,” written by Susan Clark with UVM political science professor Frank Bryanco offers research and suggestions on the Vermont Town Meeting tradition and difficulties communities face as they try to preserve it.
Some towns have created a hybrid system that moves discussion of budgets and the nomination of town officials to an open meeting in January, before town warnings and annual reports must be finalized.
Duxbury Town Clerk Maureen G. Harvey recently said, “We noticed during COVID that our turnout increased by about 300% because they were able to vote Australian. We asked the voters if they would like to switch to Australian and they voted to vote officers, budget and articles by Australian and the increase in numbers has stayed.”
Harvey then shared what is a radical departure from the usual town meeting process.
“We have what we call ‘Say Day’ in January so the voters can review the budget, get information on the articles and give feedback to the Selectboard. If public sentiment is such that something needs to be changed, there is time to do that before the ballot is presented in March.”
This year Duxbury notified voters early, in 2025, of its plans for 2026 with the headline, “Duxbury Have Your Say Day – January 10th, 2026 – Save the date.”
The notice continued, “It is time again to weigh in on town affairs. We will be having Citizens Have Your Say Day on Saturday, January 10th at the Crossett Brook Middle School cafeteria.”
The town created additional reasons to draw voters with a community meal before the meeting.
“We will start with Pie for Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting will start at 9 a.m. Bring a pie to share and the Duxbury Historical Society will serve it up in small slices so you can mix and match pieces for a serving and have a cup of coffee as well. They will do the work and provide the rest so a donation plate will be available.”
Following the shared meal, “The Selectboard will review the budget and answer voter questions. This is your opportunity to suggest changes to the budget that will be voted on in March.”
Opportunities to sign on to be considered for positions as a town official are also available that day in Duxbury.
“We also need candidates for our ballot in March. We have four selectboard positions that will be open. Is 2026 the year that you will have time for community service? We need people for 2 open positions – one each on the DRB (Development Review Board) and the Planning commission. There are several elected and appointed positions that need to be filled in March.”
Copies of the candidate petition were available in a packet available online and from the town clerk in advance of the meeting.
“All the information for Say Day will be on the website and in the office for pick up after the Selectboard has their meeting with the budget committee on December 22nd. The packet will have the financial information along with the open positions on the March ballot and the instructions for running. Say Day is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the voters and have them sign your petition.”
In addition to the business of the Say Day gathering, Duxbury organizations attend the meeting to provide information to voters as similar organizations do at town meetings throughout Vermont.
“There will be information tables on the Town forest, Duxbury land Trust, Energy committee and others. Come participate to provide your input and visit your neighbors.”
Both Waterbury and Moretown have taken a page from the Duxbury playbook and added their own special twists to it.
In 2026 the Moretown Select Board held its budget preview on Monday evening, January 5, and the Waterbury Select Board hosted Budget Adjustment Day meetings on Saturday, January 10, and Monday, January 12, according to a January Waterbury Roundabout story.
Hardwick’s vote on moving to Australian ballot is not unusual in Vermont, where many towns discovered increased voter turnout with Australian balloting and universal mailed ballots during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jericho made the move to Australian balloting after their DEI committee realized that weekday meetings were impossible for many. They found floor votes averaged 6.6% turnout, while Australian ballots averaged 19% in off-years and 49% in presidential years.
After the switch, the co-chair of their committee said, “Everyone finally has a seat at the table. We had people thanking us because it was the first time they had ever been able to vote on our town budget.”
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
