Read more: In Vermont, ‘Town Meeting’ is democracy embodied. What can the rest of the country learn from it?
WHAT: Town Meeting is a New England tradition that dates back more than 250 years. It offers people a chance to get directly involved in local democracy. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues, such as whether to buy a new firetruck or donate some money to the local food pantry.
WHY: Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face.
HOW: In Vermont, town meetings are traditionally held on the first Tuesday in March and in some towns, like Elmore, people sit down together afterwards for a potluck lunch.
WHAT’S NEW: The tradition is under threat, with many people feeling they don’t have the time or ability to attend. Many towns in Vermont have elected to move to a secret ballot system similar to the system used in national elections.
IN IMAGES: Here’s an Associated Press photo gallery from two town meetings in Vermont.
In images: New England’s ‘Town Meeting’ tradition gives people a direct role in local democracy
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CORRECTS SPELLING TO OLSSON NOT OLSON Bruce Olsson watches over fellow residents casting their ballots during a vote at the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Elmore, Vt. Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Residents react to the conclusion of the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Elmore’s Town Meeting has been going for nearly four hours. What has unfolded represents a cross-section of democracy, of people choosing for themselves how to live and work and govern. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
3 of 10|
Residents count votes for a cemetery commission position at the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Across the United States, people are disgusted with politics. Many feel powerless and alienated from their representatives at every level. The tone long ago became nasty, and many feel forced to pick a side and view those on the other side as adversaries. But in pockets of New England, democracy is done a bit differently. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues. They talk, listen, debate, vote. And in places like Elmore, once it’s all over, they sit down together for a potluck lunch. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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State Rep. Saudia LaMont, D-Lamoille-Washington, left, addresses residents during the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. In pockets of New England, democracy is done a bit differently. People can still participate directly and in person. One day each year, townsfolk gather at their annual Town Meeting to hash out local issues. They talk, listen, debate, vote. And in places like Elmore, once it’s all over, they sit down together for a potluck lunch. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
5 of 10|
Residents discuss the voting process on an issue that has come up in the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Town Meeting is a tradition that, in Vermont, dates back more than 250 years, to before the founding of the republic. But it is under threat. Many people feel they no longer have the time or ability to attend such meetings. Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Former State Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, standing at center, speaks during a discussion about school board matters at the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. The two girls at left wait to deliver the microphone to the next speaker. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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Members of the school board sit on stage in the school auditorium to respond to questions from residents during the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. Town Meeting is a tradition that, in Vermont, dates back more than 250 years, to before the founding of the republic. But it is under threat. Many people feel they no longer have the time or ability to attend such meetings. Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
8 of 10|
Residents sign in before attending the annual Town Meeting at the high school, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. Town Meeting is a New England tradition that dates back more than 250 years. It offers people a chance to get directly involved in local democracy. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues, such as whether to buy a new firetruck or donate some money to the local food pantry. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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A resident walks to the town hall to attend the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The tradition is under threat, with many people feeling they don’t have the time or ability to attend. Many towns in Vermont have elected to move to a secret ballot system similar to the system used in national elections. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
10 of 10|
Morgan Baumann, left, and Lyndall Heyer, arrive for the annual Town Meeting in the mountain town of Stowe, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
In images: New England’s ‘Town Meeting’ tradition gives people a direct role in local democracy
1 of 10|
CORRECTS SPELLING TO OLSSON NOT OLSON Bruce Olsson watches over fellow residents casting their ballots during a vote at the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Elmore, Vt. Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
1 of 10
CORRECTS SPELLING TO OLSSON NOT OLSON Bruce Olsson watches over fellow residents casting their ballots during a vote at the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Elmore, Vt. Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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2 of 10|
Residents react to the conclusion of the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Elmore’s Town Meeting has been going for nearly four hours. What has unfolded represents a cross-section of democracy, of people choosing for themselves how to live and work and govern. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
2 of 10
Residents react to the conclusion of the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Elmore’s Town Meeting has been going for nearly four hours. What has unfolded represents a cross-section of democracy, of people choosing for themselves how to live and work and govern. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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3 of 10|
Residents count votes for a cemetery commission position at the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Across the United States, people are disgusted with politics. Many feel powerless and alienated from their representatives at every level. The tone long ago became nasty, and many feel forced to pick a side and view those on the other side as adversaries. But in pockets of New England, democracy is done a bit differently. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues. They talk, listen, debate, vote. And in places like Elmore, once it’s all over, they sit down together for a potluck lunch. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
3 of 10
Residents count votes for a cemetery commission position at the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Across the United States, people are disgusted with politics. Many feel powerless and alienated from their representatives at every level. The tone long ago became nasty, and many feel forced to pick a side and view those on the other side as adversaries. But in pockets of New England, democracy is done a bit differently. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues. They talk, listen, debate, vote. And in places like Elmore, once it’s all over, they sit down together for a potluck lunch. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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4 of 10|
State Rep. Saudia LaMont, D-Lamoille-Washington, left, addresses residents during the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. In pockets of New England, democracy is done a bit differently. People can still participate directly and in person. One day each year, townsfolk gather at their annual Town Meeting to hash out local issues. They talk, listen, debate, vote. And in places like Elmore, once it’s all over, they sit down together for a potluck lunch. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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State Rep. Saudia LaMont, D-Lamoille-Washington, left, addresses residents during the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. In pockets of New England, democracy is done a bit differently. People can still participate directly and in person. One day each year, townsfolk gather at their annual Town Meeting to hash out local issues. They talk, listen, debate, vote. And in places like Elmore, once it’s all over, they sit down together for a potluck lunch. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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5 of 10|
Residents discuss the voting process on an issue that has come up in the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Town Meeting is a tradition that, in Vermont, dates back more than 250 years, to before the founding of the republic. But it is under threat. Many people feel they no longer have the time or ability to attend such meetings. Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
5 of 10
Residents discuss the voting process on an issue that has come up in the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Town Meeting is a tradition that, in Vermont, dates back more than 250 years, to before the founding of the republic. But it is under threat. Many people feel they no longer have the time or ability to attend such meetings. Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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6 of 10|
Former State Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, standing at center, speaks during a discussion about school board matters at the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. The two girls at left wait to deliver the microphone to the next speaker. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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Former State Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, standing at center, speaks during a discussion about school board matters at the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. The two girls at left wait to deliver the microphone to the next speaker. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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7 of 10|
Members of the school board sit on stage in the school auditorium to respond to questions from residents during the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. Town Meeting is a tradition that, in Vermont, dates back more than 250 years, to before the founding of the republic. But it is under threat. Many people feel they no longer have the time or ability to attend such meetings. Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
7 of 10
Members of the school board sit on stage in the school auditorium to respond to questions from residents during the annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. Town Meeting is a tradition that, in Vermont, dates back more than 250 years, to before the founding of the republic. But it is under threat. Many people feel they no longer have the time or ability to attend such meetings. Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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8 of 10|
Residents sign in before attending the annual Town Meeting at the high school, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. Town Meeting is a New England tradition that dates back more than 250 years. It offers people a chance to get directly involved in local democracy. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues, such as whether to buy a new firetruck or donate some money to the local food pantry. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
8 of 10
Residents sign in before attending the annual Town Meeting at the high school, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Stowe, Vt. Town Meeting is a New England tradition that dates back more than 250 years. It offers people a chance to get directly involved in local democracy. One day each year, townsfolk gather to hash out local issues, such as whether to buy a new firetruck or donate some money to the local food pantry. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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9 of 10|
A resident walks to the town hall to attend the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The tradition is under threat, with many people feeling they don’t have the time or ability to attend. Many towns in Vermont have elected to move to a secret ballot system similar to the system used in national elections. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
9 of 10
A resident walks to the town hall to attend the annual Town Meeting in Elmore, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The tradition is under threat, with many people feeling they don’t have the time or ability to attend. Many towns in Vermont have elected to move to a secret ballot system similar to the system used in national elections. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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10 of 10|
Morgan Baumann, left, and Lyndall Heyer, arrive for the annual Town Meeting in the mountain town of Stowe, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
10 of 10
Morgan Baumann, left, and Lyndall Heyer, arrive for the annual Town Meeting in the mountain town of Stowe, Vt., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Town meetings give residents a chance to talk, listen, debate and vote. Many people who attend town meetings say the tone is refreshingly civil when compared with the nastiness of national politics because people are debating issues with their neighbors face-to-face. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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