Defending Vermont Elections
There have been actions and statements recently from the federal government and the president that relate to how we manage elections here in Vermont. I want to be crystal clear – the U.S. Constitution gives the states control over elections and gives only Congress the power to pass laws regulating elections; it does not empower the president or executive branch to do so (U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 4). This means that, in the absence of a law passed by Congress, state law dictates all matters around elections.
Under my watch as Vermont’s Chief Elections Officer, this means that:
- We will not be sharing voter data with the federal government.
- Vote by mail is here to stay.
You can read both of my recent statements here: https://linktr.ee/vtsos
Calling all 5th Grade Teachers – Introducing the Kid Governor® Program to Vermont!
I’m so excited to announce that my office will be introducing the national civic education initiative, Kid Governor®, to Vermont this year! Kid Governor® is a free program that teaches fifth-grade students about state government, voting, and the importance of civic engagement through an authentic election for their state’s Kid Governor. The program will debut during the 2025-26 school year, with its first election in November 2025. I’ll work directly with the winning candidate and their “cabinet” to advance their goals.
So far, we’re thrilled that 36 classes from 32 schools all across Vermont are signed up!
To learn all about it, and get involved, check out our dedicated webpage: https://vt.kidgovernor.org/
Please spread the word to your local schools – I’m hoping the FPF community can help us increase participation from every corner of the state. We’re still looking for participation from Essex and Grand Isle Counties in particular!
On a related note, and open to all K-8 students, the Good Citizen Challenge 2025 is live. Among the many fantastic activities you can complete as part of the challenge is the “Future Voter” sticker design contest! https://goodcitizenvt.com/good-citizen-challenge-2025/
Vermont’s youth are inspiring!
New Vermont Business Portal!
The process of starting or growing a business in Vermont just got easier – we’ve collaborated with several other state agencies to release a new website: the Vermont Business Portal!
I’ve heard from business owners that it can often be daunting and confusing to navigate all the different parts of state government – this website is designed to organize the process, offering customized checklists so you’re not searching around a bunch of different sites to piece everything together. You can also find support and funding resources all in one place.
Check it out at: https://business.vermont.gov
I’ve been getting out around the state to check in with small business owners to hear about their experiences with our office and state government – most recently, in the NEK: https://youtube.com/shorts/uRUk30P-SOU