Agatha Kessler wins majority in contentious St. Albans City ballot count

The Vermont Senate convened on March 1, 2024, for a Joint Assembly focused on the election of the Sergeant at Arms. The meeting began with procedural checks to ensure all members had received their ballots, addressing a minor distribution issue that had arisen. Senators Bloomberg and Hardy were called upon to confirm if any members were without ballots, prompting a brief inquiry from a representative regarding the instructions for a specific line on the ballot.

The assembly clarified that the line labeled "attest" did not require any member signatures, as the ballots had already been attested by the Secretary of State. Members were informed that if anyone had mistakenly signed their ballot, they could request a replacement to maintain the anonymity of their votes.

Following the collection of ballots, the assembly proceeded to announce the results. A total of 166 ballots were cast, with a majority threshold set at 84 votes. Agatha Kessler received 84 votes, while Michael Farunt garnered 82 votes. With Kessler achieving the necessary majority, she was declared the new Sergeant at Arms.

Before concluding the session, a representative from Dover requested a brief recess, which was granted in accordance with assembly rules. The meeting highlighted the procedural integrity of the voting process and the successful election of Kessler to her new role.