Vermont election law recognizes qualified major parties (which nominate by primary) and qualified minor parties (which nominate by convention). The Vermont election law says that major parties don’t need to tell the state whom the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates are until September 14, 2016. That law, section 2716, sets their deadline as 55 days before the general election.

But the law also seems to say that qualified minor parties must tell the state whom their presidential and vice-presidential candidates are by May 26.

On April 26, the Vermont Secretary of State ruled that although qualified minor parties must indeed certify the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates by May 27, they may use stand-ins for both offices. So, if the party hasn’t chosen its actual national ticket by that date, when the actual choice is made, the stand-ins can withdraw and the state will accept replacements.

The Secretary of State also will ask the legislature to amend the election law so that both types of qualified parties in the future will have the same late deadline. Thanks to Oliver Hall for this news.