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By Vermont Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters
As Vermonters, we are fortunate to have a state government
that believes voting is a right, not a privilege. One that takes
seriously the Constitutional command to carefully protect the
right to vote; the right from which all other rights flow.
Online voter registration, same day registration, early voting,
no-excuse absentee voting, automatic voter registration
and now universally mailed ballots are all initiatives expanding
registration numbers and access to the ballot box.
As Deputy Secretary of State, I’m proud of the efforts our
office has made to ensure every eligible voter is able to cast a
vote. Vermont has one of the highest voter registration rates in
the country and our participation rates are generally top ten,
but with so many registered voters, why aren’t we doing better
at getting a higher percentage of Vermonters to the ballot box?
Lately I have been considering this question alongside
another crisis we are facing: a declining public trust in our
government and institutions.
Surveys are showing that across the country, people are losing
faith in our government. Many are also losing faith in our
courts, our institutions, our elections, and sometimes, it seems,
in the very ideas upon which America was founded.
It’s not a great feeling to work so hard to serve the state you
love, only to find that public confidence in the work you do is
slipping away. We believe in transparency and we aren’t afraid
of hard questions based in genuine concern, truth and evidence,
but to those who aren’t involved regularly or familiar
with the functions of our government, it’s easy to become
cynical. What can we do to restore the public’s trust in the
ideals of American democracy?
I believe these issues are related and can both be addressed
by investing in the civic education of the next generation of
voters.
Knowledge about government doesn’t come naturally; it is
earned and learned. Unfortunately, in the era of “no child left
behind,” we have seen the subject disappear from school curriculums
with the shift toward teaching subjects on the standardized
tests, of which civics is not one.
It is important we all understand the strengths of American
democracy, as well as its weaknesses. If we are to work
together as a nation to address the limits of ‘the great experiment,’
and ensure our government is truly created of, by and
for the people, having equitable access to civics education is a
“It’s Not Easy Being Green”
By G. E. Shuman
So, while I was in the
shower this morning,
(Yes, this is how I’m
starting this column,) a
song came to mind. It’s a
song that you have heard a million times; one
that has, since that shower, been ceaselessly
swirling around in my mind.
You already guessed what that song is, (If
not, check the title above) and now it is
probably ceaselessly swirling around in
your mind, too. Sorry. There is just nothing like spending a
day thinking of good old Kermit the frog singing away at the
top of his little froggy lungs. Again, sorry.
As I write this, the summer sun is struggling to shine outside.
The spring and summer of 2021 have been the rainiest,
darkest, coolest that I can remember. I know that some years,
• • •
Vermont’s Civic Future
crucial starting point. Without a basic understanding of our
founding documents and the layers of federal, state and local
government, it’s nearly impossible to have the hard conversations
we need to have to rebuild that trust.
We are living in the most politically and socially divisive
times I have ever experienced. There too, civics can help. It is
imperative that we teach civility and humility, dissent and
debate, and instill the ability to problem-solve with our neighbors
without labeling them as enemies.
Through civics, we can gain an appreciation for free
speech, assembly, and protest, but just as important we learn
about civil discourse, debate, compromise, and how to engage
with others who may not agree with you.
A civic education can provide the tools we need to control
the worst in human nature. We must learn and understand our
rights, authorities and our power, or they will be taken away
from us. It’s a skill we all need to develop, and one we need
to use regularly to prevent losing it.
Our goal should not just be 100% voter participation,
though we will continue to strive for it. Fortunately, civics is
not just solely about voting and election day. It’s about being
an engaged Vermonter driven to not only to vote but to volunteer,
go to public meetings, run for office, and serve in other
ways as an active member of the community.
That is why the Secretary of State’s Office is committed to
reviving its civics education programs and resources. We will
leverage our knowledge of elections and the wonderful history
of our Vermont State Archives to produce materials for
teachers to use and for all to enjoy.
We have started the process of convening stakeholders to
assist us in this critical mission, and welcome both your input
and participation. We are seeking funding and additional partners
so if you have interest or an idea, please reach out.
While the challenges facing our democracy right now loom
large, by investing in Vermont’s civic future we can ensure the
next generation of voters have the tools needed to restore faith
in democracy and ensure we are truly living up to our democratic
ideals.
Chris Winters is the Vermont Deputy Secretary of State,
serving under Secretary of State Jim Condos. He has served
in the Secretary of State’s office since 1997. Chris grew up in
Williamstown and now lives in Berlin, where he has been a
school board member and Little League baseball coach.
• • •
what are supposed to be the warmer seasons here in
the North come along and feel more like fall. This
year is one of those years.
Still, looking on the bright side, (If not of the
sun, at least of the situation) everywhere I have
been here in northern New England this summer
is simply bursting with green plant life. The tree
leaves are huge and of a thousand different
greens; the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye.
(I heard that someplace before.) Lawns are
lush, flower and veggie gardens are gorgeous,
and the hills are alive! (I heard that someplace before, too.)
If there is a point to what you have just read, and I think
there is, it is that into each life a little rain must fall. (Okay, so
next time I’ll use more of my own words.) If, when you look
out the window tomorrow morning, it is a dark and rainy day,
remember that it’s worth it. It’s not easy being green.