Scott and Janoo race to turn out voters before Nov. 3

Vermont voters will face a tight choice at the polls on Nov. 3. Incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic Progressive Amanda Janoo remain effectively tied in the polls, making the final days of the campaign a contest over turnout rather than persuasion.

The race has become the most competitive in at least a decade. With debates concluded, both camps are focusing on logistics to ensure supporters vote. Natalie Silver, a former campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, noted that person-to-person contact remains the most effective tool for influencing undecided voters.

Campaign teams are utilizing state data to identify individuals who have not yet returned ballots. They cross-reference this information with public records showing past voting history for Democrats or Republicans. This process allows campaigns to target specific households, though Silver cautioned that the data is not precise and requires extensive legwork to verify.

Voters may receive text messages from campaigns despite not signing up for lists. In Vermont, the presidential primary choice a voter makes is public information. Campaigns purchase phone numbers from national data brokers and match them with these records. This explains why residents often receive ads from races in other states, such as New Hampshire or Texas.

Kurt Wright, a longtime Burlington city councilor and former state representative, said the final three days are dedicated to getting voters to the polls. Activities include door-knocking, community appearances with honking cars, phone banking, and spending remaining funds on last-minute advertisements. He also noted that social media has become a major component of modern campaigning.

Scott’s team plans to volunteer with Wheels for Warmth this weekend. He will then embark on a 14-county tour on Monday. Janoo’s campaign has organized more than 540 volunteers to knock on doors over the weekend. Silver expects both candidates to continue holding persuasion conversations right up until the polls close.

The campaigns are working to maximize every available interaction. Silver described the effort as a complex behind-the-scenes operation to identify likely voters and ensure they show up. The focus has shifted from changing minds to counting heads in the final stretch before the election.