• Opinion Editorial:  How America Knows What America Needs
  Accurate Census a Must for Vermont, March, 2000
• Students Vote in First Kids Voting Vermont Primary, March 6, 2000
• Students Vote McCain and Gore in First Kids Voting Vermont Primary, March 7, 2000
• Secretary Markowitz Establishes Vermont's Census 2000 Complete Count Committee,
  March 14, 2000

The most basic responsibility of citizenship is to stand and be counted. In the next few weeks most Vermonters will be given an opportunity to participate in this count by filling out and returning a census form that has been either mailed to or dropped off at their residence. A census worker who visits their homes will count other Vermonters. Filling out census forms takes a little time - but it is important for Vermont.

Every ten years the national census seeks to count every citizen of the United States. But there is much more to our national census than simply being counted. The census is more than just numbers. It is a tool used by business, government, universities and others to help us identify and solve problems of poverty and suffering, plan for business and education, and develop the infrastructure we need to build strong, healthy communities.

An accurate census is important to the state of Vermont, and here is why:

1. Money for Roads and Social Services. The census count determines how much federal money will be spent in a state or community for all kind of programs - from job training to WIC nutritional programs. For every person missed, Vermont loses about $700 in federal funding. In 1990 the census overlooked approximately 6,867 Vermonters. This undercount cost us nearly fifty million dollars in lost federal funding over the past ten years!

2. It Helps us Plan. Census data provides valuable information to help government, non-profits and business spot economic trends, forecast transportation needs, plan for health and social services, anticipate housing needs, respond to natural disasters, evaluate labor supply and prepare for our children's' future.

3. Preserves the Power of Your Vote. As Vermont's chief elections officer I am particularly concerned about how Census 2000 will impact elections in Vermont for years to come. Census data is used when we redefine our legislative districts every ten years. It is vital that redistricting in Vermont be based on the best possible data. Redistricting based on accurate information will assure that each community, as well as each individual, will have fair representation in the Vermont legislature.

Concern about the undercount is not new. As early as the late1800's there was national debate on the accuracy of the census count. However, it took until the United States became involved in World War II to prove that many people had been missed from the census count. In October 1940 all of our country's men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to register for the draft. Draft registration records proved that the census taken the previous April had missed 3% of all men in that age group and 13% of African American men. That discovery was the start of an ongoing effort to identify and reduce the undercount.

Who is undercounted in Vermont? Children. People living in very rural areas. Low income Vermonters. Minorities.

The outcome of the 2000 Census is too important to leave to chance. As Vermont's census liaison it is my job to help ensure that as many Vermonters as possible are included in the Census 2000 count. To that end, I have recently formed a statewide Complete Count Committee. The Complete Count Committee includes elected and appointed officials from state and local government, social service providers, and leaders of our religious and business communities. The goal of this committee is to ensure that none of our children, our grandparents, our families, are missed or forgotten when Census 2000 is completed next year. A kick off meeting of the Vermont Census Complete Count Committee is being held Monday March 13, 2000 at the Secretary of State's office in Montpelier from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Because space is limited, those interested in attending should contact Web Editor ("Twee Win") at (802) 828-2148.

An accurate count is important to the individuals and businesses of Vermont. As the 21st century begins, Census 2000 will be the source for accurate detailed information on population growth and decline, household income and family composition, changes in racial and ethnic distribution and labor force strength. Vermont's businesses, both large and small, need accurate information for sound financial analysis and strategic planning. We must all do our part to ensure that Vermont has a fair and accurate count! To do this we must get the word to every Vermonter that it is in all of our best interest to be counted. Every Vermonter can help by filling out and returning their questionnaires and by welcoming census workers who come to your door.

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STUDENTS VOTE IN FIRST KIDS VOTING VERMONT PRIMARY

Students from St. Albans City and Montpelier will cast ballots in the March 7^th Presidential Primary at their local polling places for the first time in Vermont through the Kids Voting Vermont initiative. Secretary of State Markowitz, Honorary Chair of Kids Voting Vermont, leads the effort with her own children who have been participating in the program. Secretary Markowitz will be at City Hall in Montpelier at 9:00 am with her children to cast their ballots. After voting, Secretary Markowitz will visit City Hall in St. Albans City at 2:00 p.m. where students will also be voting.

Kids Voting Vermont is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that is training the next generation of Vermont's citizens in the value of voting and will help increase voter participation. Students kindergarten through high school participate in a curriculum about the election process and then cast their ballots alongside adults on Election Day. Over 1,000 students participated in classroom lessons at the St. Albans City and Montpelier pilot sites. Lessons included mock primaries and caucuses, monitoring the primary election results from other states, conducted surveys on voter apathy, and "registering" to vote for the upcoming election. The results of the student vote will be reported to the media after the polls close.

Recent statistics indicate a strong need to increase voter participation. While 59 percent of all adults voted in the last presidential election, only 26 percent of eligible 18-24 year olds voted. Kids Voting Vermont plans to expand to other locations in Vermont for the November election.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Carolyn Dwyer, Executive Director
Kids Voting Vermont
229-6874 (phone)/224-9176 (fax)
March 7, 2000

STUDENTS VOTE MCCAIN AND GORE IN FIRST KIDS VOTING VERMONT PRIMARY

Senator John McCain and Vice President Gore were the students' choices in the first ever Kids Voting Vermont election. Senator McCain was the clear favorite among students voting in the Republican Primary with 56 percent of the vote. Governor Bush garnered 36 percent of the student vote followed by Alan Keyes with 4 percent, Steve Forbes with 3 percent and Gary Bauer with 1 percent. In a closer Democratic Primary, Vice President Gore received 51 percent of the vote to Senator Bill Bradley's 43 percent. Lyndon Larouche had 3 percent of the vote and write-in candidates made up the final 3 percent.

St. Albans City and Montpelier, both pilot sites for Kids Voting Vermont, reported surprising results. In St. Albans, student voters gave Vice President Gore a wide margin of victory with 59 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Senator Bradley. And contrary to the adult vote, the students gave a narrow victory to Governor Bush with 47 percent to Senator McCain's 45 percent. Mayor Peter Deslaurier, running unopposed, received 86 percent of the vote. In the student question, "Should students be required to wear school uniforms?" 67 percent voted against the measure while 33 percent favored school uniforms.

In Montpelier, students gave resounding support to Senator McCain who received 68 percent of the vote to 25 percent for Governor Bush. Surprisingly, the students voted contrary to the adult vote by giving Senator Bradley a small margin of victory with 49 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Vice President Gore.

Students from St. Albans City and Montpelier have been a part of a pilot program for Kids Voting Vermont. Over 1,000 students participated in classroom lessons that included mock primaries and caucuses, monitoring the primary election results from other states, conducted surveys on voter apathy, and "registering" to vote for the Presidential Primary. Students then went to their local polling places to vote in a process closely simulating the adult voting process.

St. Albans City is already seeing the positive effects of kids voting. Mayor Peter Deslaurier reported a 17 percent increase in adult voter turnout which he attributes to the Kids Voting Program. City Clerk Dianna Baraby reports an increase in voter registration by parents whose children participated in the program.

Kids Voting Vermont is a non-profit, non-partisan organization designed to increase voter turnout and create a better-informed electorate. Kids Voting Vermont is part of Kids Voting USA, a national organization founded in 1990 that operates in forty other states. Both the state and national organizations facilitate partnerships among families, schools, election officials, and community leaders in an effort to secure the future of democracy by involving youth in the election process today.

Kids Voting Vermont is led by a volunteer Board of Directors that includes members of the business community, members of the media, educators, students, activists, and city/town clerks. Funded entirely by private sector contributions, Kids Voting Vermont counts among its Founding Sponsors the Lintilhac Foundation, Bell Atlantic, and CVPS. Kids Voting Vermont plans to expand to additional schools across Vermont for the November elections. For more information on how your community can get involved, contact Carolyn Dwyer at 229-6874.

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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Thuy (Twee) Nguyen
828-2148
March 14, 2000

Secretary Markowitz Establishes
Vermont's Census 2000 Complete Count Committee

MONTPELIER - Secretary of State Deb Markowitz today announced the formation of Vermont's Census 2000 Complete Count Committee. The Vermont Complete Count Committee is charged with ensuring that every Vermonter is counted. The committee, appointed by Secretary Markowitz, includes elected and appointed officials from state and local government, social service providers, and leaders of Vermont's religious and business communities. Secretary Markowitz said "the outcome of the 2000 Census is too important to leave to chance. As Vermont's Census liaison it is my job to help ensure that as many Vermonters as possible are included in the Census 2000 count."

Vermont Census Manager Debra Crowne said "In the next few weeks most Vermonters will be given an opportunity to participate in the census by filling out and returning a census form that has been either mailed or dropped off at their residence. A census worker who visits their home will count other Vermonters. Filling out census forms takes a little time – but it is important for Vermont."

According to Secretary Markowitz "The census count determines how much federal money will be spent in a state or community for all kind of programs – from job training to WIC nutritional programs. Our undercount cost Vermont over fifty million dollars in lost federal funding over the past ten years!" An accurate count is also important to the businesses of Vermont. Markowitz said, "Vermont's businesses, both large and small, need accurate information for sound financial analysis and strategic planning. As the 21^st century begins Census 2000 will be the source for accurate detailed information on population growth and decline, household income and family composition, changes in racial and ethnic distribution and labor force strength."

Debra Crowne said, "We must all do our part to ensure that Vermont has a fair and accurate count! To do this we must get the word to every Vermonter that it is in all of our best interest to be counted. Every Vermonter can help by filling out and returning their questionnaires and by welcoming census workers who come to your door."

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