2008 POSTER AND ESSAY CONTEST

The Vermont Secretary of State's Poster and Essay Contest is a joint project of the Secretary of State's Office and Vermont Votes for Kids. The contest is an effort to promote awareness of Vermont history, the Vermont Constitution, and the importance of voting to democracy among students in Grades K-12.

Contest Information
Contest Rules
Contest Awards
Contest Registration Forms

Contest Information

Participation in the Poster and Essay Contest is determined by the entrant's grade.  Students may participate according to the following levels:

• Grades K-2:   Official Vermont Symbols Poster Contest (state flag, state seal, state bird, etc.)

• Grades 3-5:   Vermont History Poster Contest.  Please make sure the artwork relates specifically to Vermont history.

• Grades 6-8:   (Essay)  Vermont requires our citizens to take an oath before allowing them to vote.  An oath is like a promise.  Chapter 2, Section 42 of the Vermont Constitution outlines voter's qualifications and oaths.  The Freemen and Freewomen Oath reads:  "You solemnly swear or affirm that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the State of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person."  Basically, the oath says that each citizen is promising to vote according to her or his own beliefs about what is best for the state of Vermont, and is not being coerced or enticed by anyone else to vote differently.  Do you think Vermont gets better results from our elections by making people promise to vote strictly from their own conscience about what is best for the state?  Why or why not?

• Grades 9-12:  (Essay)  In Vermont, persons convicted of a felony (serious crime) are still permitted to vote, unless the conviction is a result of tampering with a free election.  See Chapter 2, Section 55 of the Vermont Constitution; "...and any elector who shall receive any gift or reward for the elector's vote, in meat, drink, moneys or otherwise, shall forfeit the right to elect at that time, and suffer any such other penalty as the law shall direct;..."  Does it seem fair that someone convicted of murder can retain the right to vote, but a person convicted of election fraud can not?  Should all convicted felons be disenfranchised of their right to vote?  Alternately, should all convicted felons retain their right to vote?  Be sure to support you position.

Contest Rules

• Posters may not exceed 15" x 24" in size.

• All essays may not exceed two double spaced typed 81/2" x 11" pages or three handwritten pages.  (Please email essay entries if possible, and be sure to include name, grade, teacher, and school).

• Each poster or essay must be clearly labeled with the student's name, grade, teacher, and school.

All essays and posters will be judged on the following criteria:

• Originality

• Dedication to contest theme

• Knowledge of topic

• General aesthetic quality including, but not limited to, design composition, materials used, color, etc.

Return of essays and posters cannot be guaranteed.  If you would like an entry returned, please be sure that the registration form and each submission is clearly marked as such.  Entries must be POSTMARKED by April 11, 2008.

Submissions should be sent to:

2008 Poster and Essay Contest
Office of the Secretary
Redstone Building
26 Terrace Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05609-1101

We encourage you to email essay entries to mshea@sec.state.vt.us  Please call Missy Shea with any questions at 802-828-1296.

Contest Awards

A $100 prize will be awarded to the first place winners' classrooms for the purchase of materials or to fund field trips related to civics education or the study of Vermont.  In the event that a first place winner is a home-schooled student, a $100 donation will be awarded to the public library of the student's choice.

First place winners, their class and family, as well as any honorable mention recipients and their families, will be invited as guests of the Secretary of State for a day in Montpelier, Monday, June 2, 2008.  They will tour the state house, visit the Vermont Historical Society Museum, and have a rare viewing of the Vermont Constitution, which is kept in the Archives at the Secretary of State's office.  This is a particular honor since the Vermont Constitution is removed from its special vault on very few occasions.

Registration Forms

Download and print contest information including the registration form - PDF version.
Download and print contest information including the registration form - Word version.