As the Vermont House Agriculture Committee prepares to consider H.739, legislation that would ban the toxic pesticide paraquat, a new statewide poll finds strong bipartisan support among Vermont voters for taking action.
Scientific studies have linked paraquat exposure to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Earlier testimony from Dr. James Boyd, a neurologist with UVM Medical Center, revealed that chronic exposure to paraquat application could significantly increase a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The survey of 455 likely Vermont voters, conducted by Data for Progress from March 3–8, found that 77% of voters support banning paraquat in Vermont after learning basic facts about the pesticide, while only 14% oppose the ban.
Eighty-six percent of Democrats, 78% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans support banning the use of the pesticide. Eighty-three percent of women, 70% of men, 77% of Vermonters under 45, and 77% of Vermonters over 45 all support a ban.
“Vermonters clearly want action,” said Anna Seuberling, VPIRG Environmental Advocate. “Once people learn that paraquat is linked to Parkinson’s disease and banned in more than 70 countries around the world, support for banning it here becomes overwhelming.”
Vermonters Concerned About Pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease
The poll found strong concern among Vermont voters about both pesticide exposure and the rise in Parkinson’s disease:
- 66% of Vermonters are concerned about the growing number of Parkinson’s disease cases in the U.S.
- Nearly 9 in 10 voters (87%) are concerned about the health impacts of pesticides used in agriculture.
Strong Support for State Action
Despite the fact that more than 70 countries have banned the use of paraquat – including China, which manufactures and exports the pesticide – the U.S. government has yet to take action.
“The EPA has long understood the risks posed by paraquat but has failed to act,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs. “Now, EPA has disclosed that paraquat may travel much farther than was previously understood but has still failed to act. It’s time for states like Vermont to act to protect us.”
The poll found that 74% of Vermonters support state-level action to protect public health if the federal government fails to enact a ban on paraquat.
“These results are clear: Vermonters do not want this toxic herbicide used in their state,” said Zach Hardy, senior state government relations manager for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. “Decades of scientific evidence link paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s risk. Lawmakers now have the opportunity to end the use of paraquat in Vermont and protect public health.”
“Vermont has a long tradition of protecting public health and supporting sustainable agriculture,” said Seuberling. “As the House Agriculture Committee considers H.739 this week, the results of this poll show Vermont lawmakers have strong public support for moving forward with legislation to ban paraquat and protect farmworkers, rural communities, and Vermont families from unnecessary exposure to this dangerous pesticide.”
About the Poll
Data for Progress conducted the survey of 455 likely Vermont voters from March 3–8, 2026 via SMS and web panel. The results are weighted to reflect Vermont’s electorate and have a margin of error of ±5 percentage points.