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VERMONT SECRETARY OF STATE - Jim Condos | |||||||
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October 2007 Press Releases
Secretary of
State Deb Markowitz Announces a new Groundbreaking Publication on
Burial and Cemetery Law - October 30, 2007
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz Testifies Before Congressional
Committee in Washington, D.C. -
October 16, 2007
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz to Testify in Washington, D.C. - October 15, 2007
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz to Speak at
National Women's Legislators Conference - October 12, 2007 | |
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October 12, 2007 Contact: Ginny Colbert (802) 828-2148 Secretary of State Deb Markowitz to Speak at National Women’s Legislators Conference Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will be in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday, October 14, to speak at the National Foundation for Women Legislators’ (NFWL) annual conference. Markowitz, who is the immediate past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), will participate on a panel discussing women minorities in the 2008 election. Other panelists include Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners, a national pollster; Melanie Campbell, Executive Director and CEO of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation; and Angela McGlowan, a political commentator for Fox News. The mission of the NFWL is to provide strategic resources to women leaders for leadership development and effective governance through conferences, seminars, issue education materials, professional and personal relationships, and networking at both the state and federal levels. Secretary Markowitz is scheduled to speak on Sunday, October 14, at 9:15 am. More information about the NFWL and the conference can be found at http://www.womenlegislators.org/ ##
October 15, 2007 Contact: Ginny Colbert (802) 828-2148 Secretary of State Deb Markowitz to Testify in Washington, D.C., on Early and Absentee Ballots Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will be in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, October 16, to testify before the Elections Subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration. Markowitz, who is the immediate past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), will describe Vermont’s experiences with voting by early or absentee ballot. She will also discuss the challenges, obstacles, and how the Secretary of State’s Office has ensured the integrity and security of absentee ballots. The Elections Subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration is chaired by Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California. The committee's jurisdiction over federal elections requires it to consider proposals to amend federal election law and to monitor congressional elections across the United States. The committee was instrumental in the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which provided more than $3 billion dollars for the improvement of voting equipment and procedures to make the voting process more accessible and to guard against fraud. Testimony will commence at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, in 1310 Longworth House Building in Washington, D.C. ## October 16, 2007 Contact: Ginny Colbert (802) 828-2148 Secretary of State Deb Markowitz Testifies in Washington, D.C., on Early and Absentee Ballots Washington, D.C. Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz was in the nation’s capital today to testify before the Elections Subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration on Vermont’s experiences with early and absentee voting. Markowitz said, “Our experience shows that Vermont voters like the convenience of voting early in person or by mail; our election administrators like no excuse absentee voting because it reduces lines on election day; we have had few issues with voter fraud; and there are steps states can take to help reduce voter error and to deter fraud.” Secretary Markowitz noted that in the 2006 election over 20% of Vermont voters chose to vote by early or absentee ballot, up from five percent in the early 1990s. Markowitz also discussed how the Secretary of State’s Office has ensured the integrity and security of absentee ballots. She said, “In Vermont we have procedures in place that are designed to prevent problems that could arise from the use of early and absentee voting.” Markowitz, immediate past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, was invited to testify before the subcommittee by Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren of California. The committee's jurisdiction over federal elections requires it to consider proposals to amend federal election law and to monitor congressional elections across the United States. The committee was instrumental in the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which provided more than $3 billion dollars for the improvement of voting equipment and procedures to make the voting process more accessible and to guard against fraud. Secretary Markowitz’s testimony is available on the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sec.state.vt.us/secdesk/commentary/2007comm.html. ## October 17, 2007 Contact: Missy Shea, 802-828-1296 Secretary of State Deb Markowitz to Unveil New Civics Publication at Vermont NEA Conference Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will unveil the newest civics education publication created by the Secretary of State’s office at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 18, at the Vermont National Education Association conference at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds in Essex Junction. Under the Golden Dome: A State House Tour Booklet was developed in collaboration with the Vermont Statehouse tour staff and is designed to help teachers and students get the most out of their field trips to Montpelier. The booklet provides activities to keep students focused and engaged during their tour and contains additional activities they can complete once they return to the classroom. The Secretary of State’s office provides many civics programs free of charge to Vermont educators. These materials are available online on the Secretary of State’s Kids’ Pages at www.sec.state.vt.us. ## Contact: Missy Shea Under The Golden Dome A State House Tour Booklet Published by Secretary of State’s Office Essex Junction, VT. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz today unveiled the newest civics education publication created by the Secretary of State’s office. The booklet was released at the Vermont National Education Association conference at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds where Markowitz displayed the many civics programs her office offers free of charge to Vermont educators. Under The Golden Dome: A State House Tour Booklet was created in collaboration with the Statehouse tour staff. The booklet is designed to help classes get the most from their field trips to Montpelier. “Under The Golden Dome is designed to ensure that every student comes away from the Capitol with a deeper appreciation for the history of the building and the important work that goes on beneath its golden dome.” explains Secretary Markowitz. “The booklet introduces elementary students to the history of the Capitol building as well as how the legislative process works. It will help keep students focused and engaged during their tour, and it provides additional activities that can be completed back in the classroom.” In 2005, the Secretary of State’s office developed a role-play tour of the Statehouse to help older students experience the legislative process first-hand. Markowitz said, “The popularity of the role play tour led us to look for a way to make Statehouse tours more engaging for the younger students as well.” Under The Golden Dome was conceived by Secretary Markowitz and then written in part and illustrated by three students from Montpelier who served as interns in the Secretary’s office. The students, Aleah Starr, Allie Francis and Maayan Cohen were recognized by Secretary Markowitz for their hard work and dedication to the project. Markowitz also recognized the contributions of Alice Merrill, State House Tour Coordinator; David Schutz, State Curator; and Sigrid Lumbra, Social Studies Coordinator, Vermont Department of Education. Under The Golden Dome is one of the many programs that the Secretary of State’s office offers to teachers free of charge to enhance their school’s civics education curriculum. All of the programs meet Vermont’s educational teaching standards and can be viewed and ordered online at the Secretary of State’s Kids’ Pages at www.sec.state.vt.us, ##
Montpelier. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz today announced the publication of a new booklet “Digging Deep – Unearthing the Mysteries of Burial and Cemetery Law” at the Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier. The publication was written to help cemetery commissioners and associations untangle the web of complicated laws relating to burials and cemeteries, and to assist the public with answers to frequently asked questions. Markowitz says “The laws governing Vermont’s cemeteries are complex. Protecting the public health and safety and ensuring that cemeteries will be maintained into the future is of grave concern.” Also on hand were representatives from the Vermont Cemetery Association and Green Mount Cemetery. “I want to thank Joy Fagan and Patrick Healy of the Vermont Cemetery Association for urging me to take a stab at writing this booklet,” states Markowitz. “It was a worthwhile undertaking.” To order a copy of the booklet, please call the Secretary of State’s Office at 802-828-2148. You may also order it on the Secretary of State’s website: http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal/
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