Townshend, Vermont Public Records

The Townshend Police Department, headquartered at 2 Common Street, is responsible for maintaining public safety and enforcing local laws within the city limits. Residents can contact the police department's non-emergency line to report incidents, request assistance, or inquire about crime statistics and arrest records. For emergency situations, community members should dial 9-1-1, which will connect them with the Windham County Sheriff's Office, the primary emergency response provider for the Townshend area.

Townshend voters are served by the Townshend Town Clerk's Office, which functions as the local election authority, located at 1 Burbee Pond Road, Townshend, VT 05353, phone (802) 365-4200. The Town Clerk maintains voter registration records, processes absentee ballots, and oversees election administration for Townshend polling locations. Vermont voter registration can be completed online at olvr.vermont.gov, the state's Online Voter Registration system maintained by the Vermont Secretary of State's Office, or in person at the Town Clerk's office. Vermont offers same-day voter registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote on Election Day by providing proof of identity and residency (Vermont driver's license, utility bill, or other documents showing current Townshend address). The registration deadline for pre-registration is 5:00 PM on the day before Election Day, though again, same-day registration is available. Townshend operates under Vermont's traditional town meeting government; the town does not have a mayor but instead elects a five-member Select Board. Town Meeting Day occurs annually on the first Tuesday in March, when Townshend voters gather to elect town officers (Select Board members, school directors, listers, town clerk, treasurer, and various other positions serve staggered terms) and vote on the town budget and local matters by voice vote or Australian ballot depending on the issue. The next Town Meeting will be held March 2, 2027. Townshend residents vote at the Townshend Town Hall, 6801 Vermont Route 30, Townshend, VT 05353. Voters can confirm their polling location and registration status at mvp.vermont.gov, the state's My Voter Page portal. Under Vermont law (17 V.S.A. § 2367), voter checklists (registration lists) are public records available for inspection at the Town Clerk's office, though the lists cannot be used for commercial purposes. Campaign finance reports for local candidates are filed with the Vermont Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Division and searchable at campaignfinance.vermont.gov. In the November 2024 presidential election, Windham County reported approximately 63% voter turnout with roughly 28,000 ballots cast from about 44,000 registered voters. Townshend's participation typically mirrors or exceeds county averages in presidential elections. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Townshend voters will decide several key races: Vermont does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Peter Welch are not up for election until 2024 and 2028 respectively); the Governor's race will be on the ballot as Vermont governors serve two-year terms; Vermont's single U.S. House seat will be contested; all 150 seats in the Vermont House of Representatives including Townshend's representative in the Windham-3 district; half of the 30 Vermont Senate seats including the Windham Senate district seat; Windham County state's attorney and several county positions; and various local town positions if not filled at March Town Meeting. Vermont offers no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by contacting the Townshend Town Clerk by mail, phone, or through the online portal at mvp.vermont.gov. Early/absentee ballots are typically mailed 45 days before the election and must be received by the Town Clerk by 7:00 PM on Election Day (postmarks do not count). Voters may also vote absentee in person at the Town Clerk's office during the 45 days before the election during regular office hours. Precinct-level election results for Townshend are posted at the town office and reported to the Vermont Secretary of State; historical results are available at the Secretary of State's elections division website at sos.vermont.gov/elections.