October 2005 Press Releases/

Nation Election Leaders to Visit Vermont to Observe Vote By Phone Mock Election

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Addison County

Unauthorized Tattoo Charges Filed by Office of Professional Regulation

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Lamoille County

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Washington County

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Caledonia County

PRESS ADVISORY

Contact: Kathryn Mathieson                                                                 For Immediate Release

   (802) 828-2148                                                                    October 5, 2005

NATIONAL ELECTION LEADERS TO VISIT VERMONT TO OBSERVE

VOTE BY PHONE MOCK ELECTION

Vermont To Hold Mock Election To Demonstrate Technology That Will Be Used To Make Elections Accessible To Voters With Disabilities

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT –On October 5, 2005, election officials from across the nation, including members of the federal commission charged with overseeing the country’s election reform efforts, will be gathering in Vermont to view first-hand Vermont’s newly certified vote-by-phone system.  A mock election which will involve between 15-20 polling sites across Vermont will be held to demonstrate the system. 

Elections officials from Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the country, are considering using the vote by phone technology and officials from the Federal Voting Assistance Program are investigating whether this technology might be a good way to meet the needs of military and overseas voters.

Wednesday, October 5^th

Sheraton Hotel, South Burlington Vermont

1:00 – 2:00 Presentation on how the vote-by-phone System works

2:00 - 4:00 Polls will open with "voters" participating from 20 polling sites around Vermont. 

4:00 – 5:00 Polls will close. We will demonstrate the tabulation and report features of the vote by phone system.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) gives states until January 1, 2006 to provide at least one voting system at each polling place that is disabled-accessible and may be used by visually-impaired voters in private and without help.  Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced in August that Vermont would use the vote-by-phone system to meet this requirement. 

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SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT –On October 5, 2005, election officials from across the nation, including members of the federal commission charged with overseeing the country’s election reform efforts, will be gathering in Vermont to view first-hand Vermont’s newly certified vote-by-phone system.  The Inspire Vote-by-Phone system, which is produced by Kentucky-based voting services company IVS, allows physically disabled and visually impaired voters to vote privately and independently.

Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced in August that Vermont would use the IVS system to ensure equal access to voting for physically disabled and visually impaired voters, a requirement of The Help America Vote Act of 2002.  The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) gives states until January 1, 2006 to provide at least one voting system at each polling place that is disabled-accessible and may be used by visually-impaired voters in private and without help. 

Election Assistance Commissioner, Donetta Davidson; director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, Polli Brunelli; James Dickson, vice president for Governmental Affairs with the American Association of People with Disabilities; Jennifer Collins-Foley, president of the Pollworker Institute; Gary Mudd, vice president of the American Printing House for the Blind, John Garguilo, of the National Institute of Science and Technology and election officials from Los Angeles, San Diego, Solano and Sonoma Counties in California (counties with some of the largest populations in California), will join Vermont election officials and advocates at the Sheraton Hotel in South Burlington, Vermont to observe a mock election using the new system. 

“This is the best technology available to meet the broadest range of needs with the most flexibility for new applications and uses in the future,” Markowitz said.  She added that voters in the military, overseas voters or home-bound voters might be areas for Vermont to explore as future users of the IVS system.  Elections officials from Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the country, are considering using the vote by phone technology and officials from the Federal Voting Assistance Program are investigating whether this technology might be a good way to meet the needs of military and overseas voters.

The mock election, which will involve between 15-20 polling sites across Vermont, will be preceded by a short presentation by Secretary Markowitz on Vermont’s process for selecting the IVS system.  Immediately following the final tabulation and report in South Burlington, IVS staff and staff from the Secretary of State’s office will be available for questions. 

In addition to the live demonstration, IVS is making the three ballots that are being used for the mock election available on a special toll-free number, 866-979-3900, beginning October 1.  This will enable those who are unable to attend the mock election a chance to experience how easy it is to vote by phone.

“This is the most voter- and poll-worker-friendly system we’ve seen,” Markowitz said in announcing the certification of the IVS system.  “It will allow us to make voting accessible to all of Vermont’s voters, and it will enable our state to fulfill HAVA’s mandates without purchasing expensive equipment that would go unused in many of our communities.”   

Vermont will pay $525,000 for the vote-by-phone system and its election management software.  The system’s licensing, maintenance and operating costs will be approximately $110,000 annually.  Markowitz said, “The IVS system will save the State of Vermont several millions of dollars compared with the other accessible voting technologies now on the market.” 

Vermont, the first state to certify the IVS system, sought input on the selection process from a variety of individuals and organizations such as the Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired and Vermont Protection and Advocacy.  The system was developed in cooperation with disability groups such as the American Disability Association, the American Council for the Blind, the National Federation for the Blind and the American Printing House for the Blind and has earned the praise of both national and state disability leaders.

The Census Bureau estimates the number of disabled Americans at 54 million, including 34 million of voting age.  An estimated 83,000 Vermonters of voting age live with disabilities; three thousand of them are legally blind. 

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PRESS ADVISORY

Contact: Kathryn Mathieson                                                                 For Immediate Release

   (802) 828-2148                                                                    October 5, 2005

Vermont Public Service Awards to be held

in Addison County

Montpelier. Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will honor local officials of Addison County at the Vermont Public Service Awards on Wednesday, October 6^th at 4:00 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Middlebury.  The ceremony will honor over 180 local officials who have served their communities for 20 or more years.  Friends, family and other local officials are expected to attend.  The ceremony will begin with a presentation by members of the Middlebury Police Department Explorer Post 613.  Secretary Markowitz will then present certificates of service to honorees.  The event is free and open to the public. 

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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release October 13, 2005

Contact: Kathryn Mathieson 802-828-2148

This press release is available digitally at http://www.sec.state.vt.us

Unauthorized  Tattooing Charges Filed by

Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation

Unsafe Tattooing Practices A Continuing Problem in Vermont

Montpelier. Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz today announced that prosecuting attorneys in the Office of Professional Regulation have filed unauthorized practice charges against Curtis F. Allen, the individual who is alleged to have spread an infection around the Middlebury area by tattooing several individuals from his home without a license.  The infection, called methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has left several people with serious health problems, including large open sores on their skin.

“This is exactly why tattooing and body piercing are regulated professions.  Tattooing and piercing are invasive procedures and need to take place in a controlled setting, with certain sanitation and sterilization standards, to avoid the spread of infectious diseases like MRSA.”

said Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. 

The Secretary of State’s Office will pursue a civil complaint and hefty administrative penalty for unauthorized practice: $1000.00 per instance of unauthorized tattooing.  Allen faces several counts, as well as criminal charges which may be filed by the Addison County State’s Attorney.

“Our investigators did a great job in tracking down this person and putting a stop to this health hazard,” said Christopher Winters, the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation.   “We are continuing to hear about tattoos being offered out of people’s homes and at parties.  I don’t think most people, especially teenagers, understand the risks involved.  This is a good example of why we will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases.” 

For more information on the laws relating to tattooists and body piercers, and to find out who is a registered tattooist or body piercer, visit www.vtprofessionals.org.

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PRESS ADVISORY

Contact: Kathryn Mathieson                                                                 For Immediate Release

   (802) 828-2148                                                                    October 10, 2005

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Lamoille County

Montpelier. Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will honor local officials of Lamoille County and surrounding areas at the Vermont Public Service Awards on Tuesday, October 11^th at 3:30 p.m. at Johnson State College.  The ceremony will honor over 60 local officials who have served their communities for 20 or more years.  Friends, family and other local officials are expected to attend.  The ceremony will begin with a presentation by members of the Johnson Boy Scout Troop #894.  Secretary Markowitz will then present certificates of service to honorees.  The event is free and open to the public. 

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PRESS ADVISORY

Contact: Kathryn Mathieson                                                                 For Immediate Release

   (802) 828-2148                                                                    October 16, 2005

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Washington County

Montpelier. Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will honor local officials of Washington County and surrounding areas at the Vermont Public Service Awards on Monday, October 17^th at 4:00 p.m. at Vermont College/ Union Institute and University.  The ceremony will honor over 60 local officials who have served their communities for 20 or more years.  Friends, family and other local officials are expected to attend.  The ceremony will begin with a presentation by members of the American Legion Post #3 of Montpelier.  Secretary Markowitz will then present certificates of service to honorees.  The event is free and open to the public. 

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PRESS ADVISORY

Contact: Kathryn Mathieson                                                                 For Immediate Release

   (802) 828-2148                                                                    October 26, 2005

Vermont Public Service Awards to be Held in Caledonia County

Montpelier. Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will honor local officials of Washington County and surrounding areas at the Vermont Public Service Awards on Monday, October 27^th at 4:00 p.m. at the Lyndon Institute in LyndonvilleInstitute.  The ceremony will honor over 90 local officials who have served their communities for 20 or more years.  Friends, family and other local officials are expected to attend.  The ceremony will begin with a presentation by members of the American Legion Post #58 of St. Johnsbury.  Secretary Markowitz will then present certificates of service to honorees.  The event is free and open to the public. 

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