Click on image to watch ceremony. With Governor Scott is Secretary of State Jim Condos and Speaker Jill Krowinski. Image from the governor's Facebook page.
Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Governor Phil Scott issued two proclamations announcing the ratification and adoption of 2022’s Proposition 2 and Proposition 5, amending the Vermont Constitution. In a ceremony required by State law, Secretary of State Jim Condos certified to the Governor the articles of amendment had been adopted by the voters of the State. The amendments were enrolled on the parchment and deposited with the Secretary of State, making official the ratification and adoption by Vermont voters in the 2022 General Election.
The Governor, Secretary of State, Senate President Pro Tem and Speaker of the House addressed the attendees gathered in the House Chamber.
“Today, the Vermont Constitution takes on new meaning as a source of inspiration and law, clearly showing the world we believe that everyone has the right to personal autonomy,” said Governor Scott. “I want to thank Vermonters for participating in our democracy, and making these historic changes, and all those who took part in the effort to move these proposals through this important process.”
“This is a special and significant day. The Vermont Constitution is the governing document of our brave little state. Amendments to the Constitution are rare and important occurrences,” said Secretary Condos. “This year, Vermonters made clear that our Constitution should reflect our values as a state. That our state is a place where slavery of all forms is prohibited, and where the government has no place restricting any individual’s right to make their own reproductive health decisions.”
Vermont’s constitutional amendment process is long and deliberate. First, an amendment must be introduced in the State Senate in a non-election year of a biennium. Then, the amendment must pass both chambers of the Legislature that session, and the following, before being presented to Vermont voters for a vote on ratification. Today’s ceremony marks the conclusion of a long process representing years of hard work by Legislative leaders.
Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint also gave remarks at the ceremony.
“Before I ran for office, I studied and taught history. The stories of the people who fought to amend the U.S. Constitution are some of the most compelling stories I shared with my students over the years. Just like at the national level, we don’t make it easy to amend our state constitution, but we know it must be able to be updated to reflect our shared values and ideals. I want to recognize those who worked hard to bring these two amendments to pass, particularly those most impacted by these changes: women and Black people who didn’t see themselves fully protected in the Constitution. Their hard work has made our state better for all.”
House Speaker Jill Krowinski addressed the gathering in the House Chamber.
“It has been over four years in the making to get to this historic moment today. The strong vote by Vermonters to approve these constitutional amendments made it resoundingly clear there is no place for harmful language rooted in the history of slavery in our constitution and reproductive liberty will be guaranteed for Vermonters for generations to come. We must continue to do the work to protect our civil liberties and show the rest of the country that we can work together to create a better tomorrow.”
“I want to thank the Legislature for the hard work undertaken to put these important Amendments before the people of Vermont, and I want to thank the Governor for his support of this important historic moment,” said Secretary Condos. “Lastly, I want to thank each and every Vermont voter for engaging in the voting process, proving that democracy and civility are alive and well in the Green Mountain state.”
Official Vermont election results, including for Proposition 2 and Proposition 5, can be found on the Secretary of State’s website. The Governor’s proclamations can be found on the Governor’s website.
Secretary of State Condos presents the amendments to Governor Scott for his signature. With them are Speaker Krowinski and President Pro Tem Balint. Screen shot.
Statement of Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray on the Enrollment of Proposition 2 and Proposition 5 into the Vermont Constitution
“Today is a historic day for Vermont. I applaud Vermonters for their leadership in passing Proposition 2 which explicitly prohibits slavery and indentured servitude and Proposition 5 which enshrines reproductive liberty in our Vermont State Constitution.
Today's certification and enrollment is the culmination of a statewide effort and years of work by countless advocates, communities, lawmakers, and everyday Vermonters.
These amendments to our Vermont Constitution are a reminder that when we come together around our shared humanity and to protect human rights and fundamental liberties, there is nothing we can't achieve. Vermont can continue to lead the way. I congratulate every Vermonter who brought us to this historic day.”
Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Announces Presentation of Official Results of Constitutional Amendment Abolishing Slavery
Today the results of the 2022 Constitutional Amendment ballot question Proposal 2 were delivered for certification and enrollment onto the parchment as official. State Secretary Condos will present the results to Governor Scott. Proposal 2 is a ballot question abolishing slavery in Vermont and passed overwhelmingly last month.
Rev Hughes, Executive Director of the VRJA stated “this has always been about understanding systemic racism to be the legacy of slavery and dismantling it. All the work that we do is tied to this.” The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance's work of eradicating systemic racism has continued throughout this process through their Change Vermont and Acknowledge Create, Transform (ACT) legislative agendas in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 respectively (see the Health Equity Advisory Panel [Act 33. 2021] and the Joint Resolution on Racism, R-113). They have completed significant work in Burlington informing the creation of the Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging (REIB) Office and introducing Operation Phoenix Rise initiative (Reparations Task Force) in Burlington and the introduction of the Richard Kemp Center. First African Landing Day is an annual cultural empowerment event.
“This constitutional amendment has already shined a light on a number of other areas in our constitution, statutes, rules, laws and institutions that must be addressed. This work must become multiracial, multicultural, intergenerational, interfaith and nonpartisan for it to open the floodgates of justice and enable us for once to move to a true more perfect union” said Rev Hughes. The community is invited to attend the ceremony today at 10:30 AM at the Statehouse. Prior to the presentation and enrollment, Governor Scott, Secretary Condos, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint will deliver remarks.
Statement from Vermont’s Reproductive Liberty Ballot Committee:
“Today’s addition of protections for personal reproductive autonomy in Vermont’s constitution is the exciting and historic result of a four-year process. In every Vermont town, the majority of voters supported the passage of the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, with more than 212,000 votes statewide. Vermonters made it clear that they believe that our reproductive decisions are ours to make without interference from politicians. Now, reproductive rights for everyone in Vermont will be protected long-term. Vermont has once again set an example of what is possible. We are grateful to Vermonters and elected leaders for their support of these fundamental human rights.”
- Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund
- ACLU of Vermont
- League of Women Voters of Vermont
- Alliance for a Better Vermont
For more information about the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, visit reprolibertyvt.org.
Statement from Lucy Leriche, Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund:
“History was made today in Vermont. Now that protections for personal reproductive autonomy are permanently enshrined in Vermont’s constitution, we know that the rights we rely on today won’t change tomorrow. Vermont voters overwhelmingly stood up for reproductive freedom, for ourselves, our neighbors, and future generations. Everyone should have the right to make their own reproductive decisions, like whether and when to become pregnant, carry a pregnancy to term, use temporary or permanent birth control, or seek abortion care. We are so grateful that Vermonters supported these fundamental rights.”
At a time when politicians in half of the states in the country are moving to ban or severely restrict abortion access, Vermont will protect the full spectrum of reproductive health care and will ensure that important, personal health care decisions remain between patients and doctors, not politicians.
Click here to view the proclamation ratifying and adopting Proposition 2 to the Vermont Constitution.
Click here to view the proclamation ratifying and adopting Proposition 5 to the Vermont Constitution.
12.13.2022. Montpelier, VT – Secretary of State sos.vermont.gov