The 2026 Election Issues Guide Is Here!

Vermont kids and families are engaged and making an impact on this year’s elections in Vermont. Preliminary data from the Secretary of State’s office shows voter turnout at the August primary increased from the primary election in 2024, and we’re not done yet. Candidates will continue to campaign and will need to hear from you before the general election on November 3rd.

Voices for Vermont’s Children created an Elections Issues Guide to help spark ideas for what to ask candidates and how to engage this election season. 

This year, we focused our issue guide on family economic security and  gave specifics to the often cited concerns of affordability. We know families are struggling to afford basic needs. Utilities, food, health care, and housing expenses just keep rising.

This guide was made with parents, caregivers, and young people in mind. We hope you will learn more about issues that matter most to you and be inspired to ask candidates running for office about their positions on these issues. Statewide positions like governor and lieutenant governor, as well as state senators and representatives who represent you locally, influence the future of children in Vermont. 

Some examples of questions in the guide include: 

• How should state policy address the rising gap between wages and the cost of housing, child care, health care, and food?

• If elected, what would you do to ensure immigrant families have equitable and timely access to resources and support that allow them to achieve economic security for their family?

• What steps should Vermont take to support the economic security of youth transitioning to adulthood? What policy changes would you support that would systemically make our state affordable for young people to stay and raise their families here?

These questions on economic well-being, education, family and community can help prepare you and provide the data you need to give a candidate context on how Vermont children and families are doing. We also spotlight issues that intersect with economic issues like education funding and the importance of passing universal paid family and medical leave. 

We urge you to use this guide at the next candidate forum held in your county, the next time a candidate knocks on your front door., to email a candidate directly or write an op-ed to your local paper. Let us know by tagging us at @voices4vtkids on social media!