In order to pass the Youth Vote bill through Committee, a couple of major changes had to be made to the charter amendment as submitted.
One was to delete the entire section about youth serving on school boards. The two school boards specified in the charter amendment no longer exist, because of the new consolidated school district.
This means there is work to do passing another charter amendment empowering youth to serve on the new Board.
The other major change was the creation of a legal entity called a “youth voter”.
READ THE DIFFERENCES
Demystifying the Youth Vote
The Vermont State Constitution — Chapter II, Section 42 — provides the basic right of those who reach the full age of 18 to vote in general and state elections and primaries. The section would prohibit a charter from setting a higher age for local elections, because the constitution is an expression of rights, limiting government from interfering with what it guarantees, but it cannot prohibit municipal charters (which are essentially state statutes) that provide rights to younger persons.
That’s why the state will approve the amendment.
The Youth Voter amendment will allow local youth to vote on town matters only, not in state or national elections. Otherwise Brattleboro would have more electoral power than other towns, which would be illegal.
The Youth Vote is not a town resolution.
Most people assume that the Youth Vote proposal is one of the familiar advisory resolutions and that it follows the same process. This will not be a town ordinance or town resolution. It is a charter amendment and follows a state statute, Section 2645, for requesting approval by the state legislature.
That’s why it’s fine to put the Youth Vote amendment on the ballot.
A charter is granted to a town by the state, and it is like a rental property. You can change it, but you have to get permission from the owner – the state.
Most people assume that the Youth Vote proposal is one of the familiar advisory resolutions and that it necessarily follows the same process. This will not be a town ordinance or town resolution. (So, Dillon’s rule does not apply.) It is a charter amendment and follows a state process requesting approval by the state legislature. Section 2645 of Vermont statutes that describes the amendment process was actually written by our attorney Paul Gillies (now retired).
That’s why it’s legal to put the Youth Vote amendment on the ballot.
A difference between an amendment and the state statutes is not a problem. That is what section 2645 is for. For example Vermont statutes provide that people can vote on petitioned resolutions any time of year. In 2011 Brattleboro proposed charter amendments to restrict petitions, and they were processed legally under section 2645. Now Brattleboro is the only town in Vermont where town government can censor petitions and people can’t vote on petitioned resolutions except one day per year. (Sad, but true. BCS is working to restore your rights.) The process of amending the charter is a process of asking the state to allow the town to change its charter.
“any person who has completed the sixth grade… possesses sufficient literacy, comprehension, and intelligence to vote in any election.”
– 52 U.S. Code § 10101 (c) – Voting rights
“(2) No person who demonstrates that he has successfully completed the sixth primary grade in a public school in, or a private school accredited by, any State or territory… shall be denied the right to vote in any Federal, State, or local election…”
– Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Sec 4 (e)
No Taxation Without Representation
Did you know that American citizens in Washington DC, which is equal in population to the state of Vermont, have no representation in Congress ?! And thousands of people who live in Vermont, have jobs and pay taxes can’t vote. They’re called “teenagers”. Our treatment of these people violates the principles of democracy.
Videos on our YouTube Channel
Brattleboro Town School Board Candidates Unanimously Endorse the Youth Vote Charter Amendment
The candidates for Brattleboro’s Town School Board are asked how they feel about students having an equal vote to theirs on school boards, in a candidates forum on February 25, 2019. The candidates unanimously supported the Youth Vote town charter amendment, which is on the March 5 ballot and would allow 16- and 17-year olds to vote in town elections, and serve on school boards and in Representative Town Meeting. Each candidate emphasized a different benefit of the change.
Speakers at the Brattleboro Youth Vote Public Hearings – October 2 & 9, 2018
Video edit of the town public hearings on the Brattleboro Youth Vote ballot initiative, held in October of 2018. Edit is only the speakers’ comments, without transitions or any other slack. Many varied opinions were voiced and debated.
Youth Debate the Youth Vote (2 Con, 3 Pro)
Traveling debate among youth that happened after an October public hearing. Two young folk argue against their generation’s fitness for full citizenship, with three youth leaders from the Youth Vote campaign. SUPER AWESOME DEBATE!
River Garden Democracy Forum: The Brattleboro Youth Vote
Rio Daims, Coordinator of the Brattleboro Youth Vote campaign, facilitates a presentation and Q & A session at the River Garden’s Brown Bag Lunch Series.
Brattleboro Selectboard Special Mtg: Youth Vote Charter Amendment
On August 24, 2018, the Selectboard held a special meeting to decide whether to put the Brattleboro Youth Vote town charter amendment on that November’s ballot, or on the ballot for the March 2019 town elections. Rio Daims, Coordinator of the Youth Vote campaign, makes statutory arguments for November, and the town lawyer makes the case for March.
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