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Vermont Legislature
Follow VPR's statehouse coverage, featuring Pete Hirschfeld and Bob Kinzel in our Statehouse Bureau in Montpelier.

Why Doesn't Vermont Choose Its Governor By Popular Vote?

Legislation introduced in both the House and Senate would increase the proportion of education resources going to districts with economically disadvantaged students.
Angela Evancie
/
VPR File
Because neither incumbent Gov. Peter Shumlin nor challenger Scott Milne got a majority of popular votes on Nov. 4, lawmakers will decide Vermont's next governor when they reconvene next week.

When the Vermont Legislature reconvenes early next week, the first order of business will be to do something that’s usually left to voters – choosing the state’s next governor.

Thanks to a constitutional quirk, lawmakers will decide because no candidate got a majority of popular votes on Election Day. Vermont and Mississippi are the only states in the country with this system.

VPR's Alex Keefe discussed the methods and history of Vermont’s unique electoral process with John Bloomer, Secretary of the Senate and former state senator.

Clarification 12:27 p.m. Dec. 31, 2014 While Vermont is the only state in the country where the full legislature votes for the governor in the absence of a popular majority, Mississippi's constitution requires its Statehouse to hold such a vote under the same circumstances. This post has been updated to reflect that information.

Alex was a reporter and host of VPR's local All Things Considered. He was also the co-host and co-creator of the VPR program Brave Little State.
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