Underhill, Vermont Public Records

The town's budget of approximately $1.2 million for the fiscal year 2023 supports the maintenance of local infrastructure, community programs, and the provision of essential public services to residents.

Public safety in Underhill is overseen by the Chittenden County Sheriff's Department, which provides law enforcement services to the town. Residents can contact the sheriff's office at their regional dispatch center to report emergencies or non-emergency incidents. The department maintains detailed records of all calls, arrests, and incident reports related to Underhill. Individuals seeking information about local crime statistics or law enforcement activities can submit a public records request to the sheriff's office.

Underhill voters are served by the Office of the Underhill Town Clerk, located at 12 River Road, Underhill, VT 05489, phone (802) 899-4434. The Town Clerk serves as the local election official responsible for maintaining voter registration records, processing absentee ballots, and administering elections in Underhill. For county-level election administration and information, voters may contact the Chittenden County Clerk's Office at 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401, phone (802) 863-3467, though most voter services are handled at the town level in Vermont's decentralized election system.

Vermont residents can register to vote online through the Vermont Secretary of State's online voter registration portal at https://olvr.vermont.gov/. Voters must be U.S. citizens, Vermont residents, and at least 18 years old by election day. Vermont allows same-day voter registration, meaning eligible residents can register and vote on Election Day at their polling place with proof of residency. Acceptable proof includes a valid Vermont driver's license, utility bill, bank statement, or another document showing the voter's name and current address. The voter registration deadline for those registering by mail is received by 5:00 PM on the Wednesday before Election Day; online registration closes at 11:59 PM on the Wednesday before Election Day.

Underhill conducts municipal elections annually on Town Meeting Day, which is the first Tuesday in March. Voters elect town officers including selectboard members (five-member board serving staggered three-year terms), town clerk, treasurer, listers (assessors), school board members, and various other town positions. The next Town Meeting Day election will be held March 2, 2027. Underhill uses Australian ballot voting for town officer elections, with polls typically open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Underhill Town Hall. Town Meeting itself, where residents vote on the town budget and other warrant articles, is traditionally held on the Saturday following the Tuesday ballot election. Voters can find their assigned polling place by contacting the Town Clerk or checking https://mvp.vermont.gov/, the state's My Voter Page, where registered voters can verify registration, polling location, and sample ballots.

In the November 3, 2026 general election, Underhill and Chittenden County voters will decide several important races. Vermont will elect a Governor (four-year term), as the state holds gubernatorial elections in midterm years. Voters will also elect state senators and representatives to the Vermont General Assembly; Underhill is part of the Chittenden Senate District and a House district shared with neighboring towns. Vermont's single U.S. House seat will be on the ballot (Vermont has one at-large Representative). The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bernie Sanders is not up in 2026 (next election 2024), but the seat held by Peter Welch will be contested in 2028. County-level positions including Chittenden County State's Attorney, Sheriff, and several judgeships may appear on the ballot. Local ballot questions related to town budgets, school budgets, or policy issues may also be presented to Underhill voters.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Chittenden County reported strong voter turnout with approximately 68-72% of registered voters casting ballots, reflecting Vermont's traditionally high civic engagement. Chittenden County, as Vermont's most populous and urban county, tends to vote more Democratic than rural Vermont counties, though Underhill's political composition includes a mix of progressive, Democratic, moderate, and conservative voters typical of rural Vermont towns.

Vermont offers robust absentee and early voting options. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Voters can request absentee ballots through the My Voter Page at https://mvp.vermont.gov/, by contacting the Underhill Town Clerk in writing, or in person. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Town Clerk by 5:00 PM on the day before the election. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the town clerk by 7:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. Vermont also allows early voting in person at the town clerk's office during the 45 days before an election during regular office hours.

Election-related public records in Vermont include voter checklists (registration lists), which are public records available for inspection though personal information like birth dates and Social Security numbers are redacted. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with the Vermont Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Division and searchable at https://campaignfinance.vermont.gov/. Candidate filings, nomination papers, and election results by town and precinct are public records. The Vermont Secretary of State's Elections Division, https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/, publishes unofficial and official election results for all state and federal races, broken down by town. Underhill-specific results for town elections are available through the Town Clerk's office and are typically posted at the town office and on the town website at https://www.underhillvt.gov/ following each election.