Key Issues

What Does the Secretary of State Do?

Business Services Division
Business Services Division registers all different types of businesses in Vermont - from a local General Store to Beta Technologies. Our purpose is to provide legal compliance, records management, and excellent customer service so that individuals and businesses can navigate various legal filings and achieve compliance for businesses, and Uniform Commercial Code liens. The public has access to business information in the custody of the Division. This provides protection to the public. This work is performed by Sarah’s small team through a state of the art IT system. Our office has collaborated with other state agencies to create a business  portal with resources for new and expanding businesses. You can find this portal here.

Elections

The Elections Division strengthens democracy by supporting voters, town officials, candidates, and advocates in conducting free, fair, and accessible elections. Sarah’s team promotes transparency by increasing access to information about how lobbying is conducted and how campaign funds are raised and spent. In Sarah’s first two terms, she has worked to implement three new systems for this division, including the Vermont Election Management System.

OPR Core Functions

The Office of Professional Regulation’s (OPR) primary function is to protect the public through the regulation of professionals. OPR ensures that applicants have met the minimum qualifications and standards to practice competently. This allows them to enter the market and start working in the profession they have been working towards in their education or apprenticeships. Development and implementation of statutes, rules, regulations, and policies are the foundation to professional regulation. The Office of Secretary of State holds licensees accountable to their professions standards and handles unprofessional conduct through a complaint-based, fair, impartial, and transparent quasi-judicial enforcement process. The public has access to this system to look up professionals to ensure that their providers are qualified and do not hold a disciplinary record. One of the important roles of OPR is to assess current and new regulations and adapt to changes through regulatory reviews, licensing reform, streamlining, and reducing barriers to accessing a credential. In this most recent session, OPR advocated for the licensure of Doulas, recognizing the important role they play in maternal and fetal health.

VSARA

The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) preserves, promotes, and protects State and local records. VSARA ensures public transparency by providing accurate, authentic, and reliable records and information through expert programs and services and partnerships within Vermont government and communities. Sarah’s office strives to foster strategies and technologies to simplify recordkeeping. In a democracy, it is critical for the people to know what their government is doing on their behalf - VSARA ensures that transparency.

Sarah’s Key Issues

Elections
One of Sarah’s key values has been transparency in elections, including on Town Meeting Day, by promoting enhanced trainings on Open Meeting Law to various boards and committees. This value has also led her to create the first ever universal voting guide in Vermont, and to visit small town clerks to promote accountability and trust. By also updating the Vermont Election Management System, Sarah has ensured that elections are fair and open. Even before becoming Secretary of State, Sarah worked hard in the Legislature to promote free and fair elections through mail in ballots during COVID-19.

Safe at Home

With a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the well-being of Vermonters, Sarah works to protect individuals vulnerable to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As Secretary of State, she has advocated for the modernization of the Safe at Home program, which serves as a lifeline for those facing threats to their safety. The program empowers victims who have relocated or are contemplating relocation to shield their whereabouts from their perpetrators.

Civic Engagement and Education

As a passionate advocate for civic engagement and education, Sarah has fostered meaningful dialogue with Vermont’s youth. She has visited schools around the state to promote the Kid Governor Program and to discuss civics education with students. She has overseen voter registration drives around the state, supported local media through funding allocation, and led a business listening tour to engage business leaders in the state.