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Early voting gets underway in Vermont ahead of Election Day

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Early voting gets underway in Vermont ahead of Election Day


MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Sept. 26 marks the start of early voting in Vermont, main as much as the overall election in November. And as soon as once more, the state will mail out ballots to all energetic registered voters.

Right here’s what you must know to ensure your vote is counted.

The final election is coming into focus in Vermont this week, beginning with the state mailing out ballots to energetic registered voters by cities alphabetically. That features voters in South Burlington, the place Metropolis Clerk Donna Kinville has been gearing up for months.

“All the stuff that the city clerk does on a day-to-day basis– hastily you might have these duties,” Kinville stated.

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There are a selection of the way to guarantee that your vote is counted: dropping it off at a mailbox or safe dropbox, leaving it at your city clerk’s workplace or bringing it to the polls on Election Day.

That ease of entry, plus poll curing and same-day registration, positioned Vermont close to the highest of a brand new examine outlining ease of voter entry.

New Hampshire ranked on the backside, particularly due to failing to maintain tempo with reforms like on-line voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting.

2020 was a exceptional election 12 months with report turnout pushed by the pandemic and a hotly contested presidential election.

This 12 months, Vermont has two open seats in Washington, a number of statewide places of work and dozens of seats in Montpelier.

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Having ballots in hand for over a month has an enormous impact on how elections work. What was Election Day has now changed into a 45-day-long election season.

“Voters change their minds. They don’t must determine till that second they’re in there. Now, they’re going to be deciding all through these completely different pivot factors by way of the following month-and-a-half,” stated Wealthy Clark, a political scientist at Castleton College.

Political scientists say that has a giant affect on how the campaigns spend their last weeks. Campaigns can inform who has despatched of their ballots and that enables them to focus money and time on particular voters. However it additionally raises questions on when to carry debates and public boards.

“Do you maintain these nearer to Election Day and hope to affect the swing voters, the undecideds?” Clark stated. “Or do you maintain them earlier so folks can soak up that info and use that earlier than they vote?”

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Vermont

Multiple people injured in crash involving LAPD patrol car in Vermont Vista

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Multiple people injured in crash involving LAPD patrol car in Vermont Vista



Multiple people injured in crash involving LAPD patrol car in Vermont Vista – CBS Los Angeles

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A fire hydrant was also sheared in the crash.

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Vermont man charged in the murder of missing Bradford man – VTDigger

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Vermont man charged in the murder of missing Bradford man – VTDigger


A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in Burlington on Thursday, Jan. 23. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

A Bradford man in Vermont State Police custody is accused of killing Corey Crooker, who was first reported missing in January, according to state police.

James D. Nickles Jr., 42, is facing charges of second-degree murder, unauthorized burial or removal of a dead body and providing false information to police, according to state police spokesperson Adam Silverman. A judge found probable cause for the charges Friday, and the Vermont State Police obtained an arrest warrant for Nickles.

Crooker was last seen by family members on Jan. 9 and last heard from five days later.

Vermont State Police initially deemed Crooker’s disappearance “not suspicious” but later obtained evidence that the circumstances of the case were “criminal in nature.”

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Nickles had been in federal custody on firearms charges arising from the investigation into Crooker’s disappearance when he was charged with his killing, according to state police.

According to reporting by NBC5, Nickles, while in custody, allegedly confessed to shooting Crooker on Jan. 14 during an argument over drugs.

Nickles later disposed of the body by burning it in a fire pit, NBC5 reported. Police found evidence at the scene but could not positively identify the remains at that time, the outlet reported.

The agency this week also arrested Lisa Akey of Bradford in connection with Crooker’s death. Akey has been charged with being an accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice and providing false information to a police officer, according to state police.

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‘We have to be realistic’: Scott pauses Vermont’s electric vehicle rules

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‘We have to be realistic’: Scott pauses Vermont’s electric vehicle rules


Gov. Phil Scott issued an executive order this week pausing penalties for manufacturers who fail to hit certain electric vehicle sales quotas set to kick in later this year.

Three years ago, Vermont agreed to require “an increasing percentage” of passenger cars, trucks and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state to be electric starting late this year, with the end goal being to stop selling gas-powered vehicles completely by 2035.

On Tuesday, however, Scott said in his executive order that the plan’s original timeline is no longer feasible due to lack of supportive infrastructure, lagging interest in electric vehicles and “federal disruptions” like tariffs, which are raising costs and “causing supply chain uncertainty.”

“I continue to believe we should be incentivizing Vermonters to transition to cleaner energy options like electric vehicles,” said Scott in a press release announcing his executive order. “However, we have to be realistic about a pace that’s achievable. It’s clear we don’t have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles to meet current goals.”

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Vermont may have the most electric vehicle chargers per capita in the nation, but even the fastest charging stations in the state take hours to fully charge a vehicle, Scott said during a press conference on Wednesday. He added that the oldest charging stations take 12-16 hours, requiring people to prepare well in advance if they want to travel.

“You can’t rely on that if you’re going to be traveling in Vermont, especially on a cold winter day,” Scott said. “Your range might be 200 miles. If you’ve got to go to Brattleboro and back, you’re challenged.”

Scott has experienced the inconvenience of charging EVs

As an example, Scott recounted his experiences with the electric Ford F-150 his administration purchased back in August 2022, admitting that he’s had to delay travel plans or make other travel arrangements in the past because of how inconvenient charging the vehicle can be.

“We have much more work to do in order to make it more convenient, faster, and more affordable to buy, maintain and charge EV’s,” Scott said in his press release. “When we do, it’s more likely every day Vermonters will make the switch.”

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Where consumer interest in electric vehicles stands now, manufacturers and local dealers are struggling to meet Vermont’s zero emission vehicle sales goals, Scott said during his Wednesday press conference. To hit sales targets, some manufacturers are “forcing” dealers to receive and sell a certain number of electric vehicles before they supply dealers with more gas-powered cars and trucks, which are still in much higher demand, Scott said.

“And dealers aren’t able to sell them,” Scott said, hurting them financially.

To avoid penalties for failing to meet electric vehicle sales totals, manufacturers can no longer impose the aforementioned zero emission vehicle “ratios” on dealerships, must deliver vehicles in a “timely manner” and must provide reports demonstrating they are continuing to “promote and market” electric vehicles, such as building more charging infrastructure and including electric vehicles in “ride and drive” events.

“The enforcement discretion is only available to them if they are continuing to provide the services Vermonters are requesting,” said Secretary Julie Moore of the Agency of Natural Resources during Scott’s press conference.

The executive order was effective immediately and will continue until Dec. 31, 2026 or until Scott, upon consulting with Moore, amends or rescinds the order.

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Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.



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