Vermont Votes Early, Bills Move Forward | Montpelier News

Early voting in Vermont is off to a strong start, with over 3% of registered voters already casting ballots — and towns like Shelburne, Calais, and Barre are leading the way. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas urges voters to drop off absentee ballots at town clerks or polling places on Election Day, not mail them. Senator Peter Welch voted against the Farm Bill, criticizing it for ignoring small farmers, cutting nutrition programs, and failing to address rural economic crises. Meanwhile, Vermont’s DMV has rebranded its enforcement division as the Highway Patrol — honoring its century-old roots and highlighting specialized commercial vehicle safety training. On Capitol Hill, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Delia Ramirez have reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, backed by Welch and Becca Balint, to rebuild affordable housing sustainably and create jobs. And good news for Vermont’s budget: all three major funds — General, Transportation, and Education — surpassed projections for June and the full fiscal year, painting a bright financial picture for the state. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/90e4a3e54f9e4c67