Board of Civil Authority / Board of Abatement

Elections: The Board of Civil Authority has charge of the conduct of elections, including determining the qualification of applications to the voter checklist, staffing of the polls, counting ballots, and transporting ballots to voters and for other election business.

Appeals: The Board of Civil Authority hears appeals from the decisions of the Listers. The BCA hears the appeal and testimony, conducts a site inspection and renders a final decision in writing. For details on your rights as a property owner, click here to download the A Handbook on Property Tax Assessment Appeals, published by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office.

Representation: The BCA acts as the voice of the town on matters that come up at the State level. For instance, the BCAs of the towns in a legislative district may vote to have a legislative district of two representative become two single-rep districts, within the scope of the law.

Justices of the Peace (denoted with *) are elected locally, but are actually county officers. The number of positions in a town is determined by population. Huntington has seven JPs. Terms end January 31, 2024.

Justices of the Peace:

1. may officiate marriages in Vermont.
2. may also administer oaths in all cases where an oath is required, unless a specific law makes a different provision.
3. is a notary public ex officio and has all the acknowledgment powers of a notary public. However, the Justice of the Peace must file with the county clerk in order to act as a notary public (but the fee is waived).
4. may also serve as a magistrate when so commissioned by the Supreme Court

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BCA/BOA Documents