The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 17 : Elections

Chapter 034 : Apportionment of State Representatives

• § 1891. Statement of policy

  The order of the U.S. District Court for the district of Vermont entered August 3, 1964, modified and affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, January 12, 1965 (Parsons v. Buckley, 85 S.Ct. 503, 379 U.S. 359 (1965), 13 L.Ed.2d 352), requires that both houses of the Vermont General Assembly be apportioned and districted on a basis other than the manner provided for in the Constitution of this State. The order further provides that if reapportionment legislation is not enacted by July 1, 1965, the district court shall reapportion the General Assembly so as to comply with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In the light of this order, the Vermont General Assembly declares that apportioning and districting is primarily a responsibility of the General Assembly at this time to be accomplished by this chapter, and in such a manner as to achieve substantial equality in the choice of members of the General Assembly as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. It is further declared to be the policy of the State of Vermont that the constitutional basis of apportionment of the House of Representatives can best be measured in this State by population. (Added 1965, No. 98, § 2; amended 1981, No. 30, § 1, eff. April 16, 1981; 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 59, eff. Apr. 30, 2026.)