Ballot question
Proposal 3: right to collectively bargain (constitutional amendment)
- On the ballot in
- Vermont
- Vote
- Yes or no
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
The question, as printed on the ballot
That Article 23 of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution is added to read: Article 23. [Right to collectively bargain] That employees have a right to organize or join a labor organization for the purpose of collectively bargaining with their employer through an exclusive representative of their choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety in the workplace. Therefore, no law shall be adopted that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to collectively bargain with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, or that prohibits the application or execution of an agreement between an employer and a labor organization representing the employer’s employees that requires membership in the labor organization as a condition of employment.
A “Yes” vote means
A yes vote adds to the Vermont Constitution a right for employees to organize or join a union and bargain collectively, and bars laws that interfere with it or ban union-membership agreements.
A “No” vote means
A no vote leaves the Vermont Constitution unchanged; it would not add a constitutional right to collectively bargain.
Official plain English statement
This proposal would amend the Constitution of the State of Vermont to provide that the citizens of the State have a right to collectively bargain.
Question text is the article of amendment as proclaimed by the Governor on July 27, 2026. plainEnglish is the Secretary of State's (State Archives) summary of the proposal, not a ballot statement.
Sources
- Proclamation: Proposal 3 (proposed amendment to the Vermont Constitution) · Office of Governor Phil Scott
- List of Proposals (amendments to the Vermont Constitution) · Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Secretary of State
The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.