BRATTLEBORO — Here's how Susan Clark and Frank Bryan, in their book All Those in Favor: Rediscovering the Secrets of Town Meeting and Community, describe the weaknesses and dangers of Australian ballot:
“Voting by Australian ballot is much simpler than going to town meeting. It is much less time consuming. It is much less public, done alone behind curtains. It is much less threatening - no one ever knows what you think. The Australian ballot is quick, easy, private, unaccountable and, most important, simple.
“It is also deadly.
“In a way, the Australian ballot is worse than deadly, because it doesn't kill town meeting quickly. And the execution is dishonest. We are told it will save town meeting, while the reality is that it poisons it and lets it die slowly, sparing the executioner the moment of death and the acceptance of responsibility.
“Understand. The Australian ballot takes away your right to legislate - to be part of the lawmaking process - and it doesn't even replace it with a deliberative body that represents you. It simply allows you to vote up or down, yes or no, on an issue prepared by the selectboard or in many cases by a small group of private citizens with a special interest.”
The authors include this telling quote from Paul Gillies, former Vermont deputy secretary of state (whom Brattleboro Common Sense has cited as an authority): “With Australian ballot, you won't be able to amend the budget. You can only vote yes or no. Yes, no, yes, no. It's the most inarticulate conversation you'll ever have.”
The word “legislate” means deliberating together and, if necessary, amending an article to clarify the question before it is voted.
That's what Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting does - through 140 elected or appointed community members from all districts, with many different ideas: it legislates and acts in public for the well-being of the entire town.
Articles 3 and 4 of the warning for this year's Annual Town Meeting on March 3 propose to change the town charter to encourage reliance on Australian ballot for matters that should be legislated openly. These articles are misguided and dangerous, and they should be defeated.