Q: Why should I vote “Yes” on #5 on Town Meeting Day?

A. Burlington’s City Charter contains sexist, archaic, discriminatory, and harmful language that does not represent our values as a city. Burlington residents value inclusion, community, and protecting the health and safety of all residents. We believe in the inherent dignity of all human beings. The Charter’s current language deprives individuals engaged in sex work of their dignity and bodily autonomy, and in essence, makes them second class citizens.

Q. Why does this matter? Why is this language harmful?

A. Stigma and discrimination cause tremendous harm to all people engaged in sex work, whether their form of work is legal or not and whether they are working by choice, circumstance, or coercion. Laws that further stigma, shame, misogyny, and discrimination enable and amplify harms to an already vulnerable population. The current Burlington City Council charter mandate to “restrain and suppress houses of ill fame and disorderly houses, and to punish common prostitutes and persons consorting therewith” is not only immensely archaic and dehumanizing, it does nothing to support the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Burlington.

Q. How would removing the discriminatory language support the wellbeing of Burlington residents?

A. We must listen to sex workers and survivors. Vermonters who engage in consensual adult sex work and individuals who have experienced trafficking are urging people to vote “Yes” on 5. “We have been criminalized and marginalized for too long,” said Henri June, co-founder of The Ishtar Collective, Vermont’s only organization run by and for sex workers and survivors of exploitation or trafficking, “We’re asking our neighbors to recognize us as deserving of dignity and bodily autonomy. This charter change would be a step in the right direction towards improving the health and safety of individuals who engage in sex work consensually and those who are trafficked into it,” June continued.

Q. How did this become an issue we are voting on and what happens after the vote?

A. The formal process to amend the charter mandate to “restrain and suppress houses of ill fame and disorderly houses, and to punish common prostitutes and persons consorting therewith,” was triggered by a resolution by City Councilor Perri Freeman, P-Central, which was unanimously approved in June 2021.

If the majority of voters vote “Yes” on #2 to remove the harmful language, the issue then goes to the Governor and Legislature for final approval.

Q. Will removing this language mean we are encouraging prostitution?

A. No. Removing it will simply show that we care about the health and safety of everyone who lives in Burlington, regardless of how they earn a living. Voting “Yes” shows that you value the inherent dignity and worth of all human beings and understand that this discriminatory language has a deleterious effect on an already marginalized population.

Q. I’ve heard some people say that removing this language will make Burlington the “sex trade capital of the country.” Is that true?

A. No.  Individuals who conflate human trafficking and consensual adult sex work use hyperbole and fear-mongering to scare voters from listening to sex workers and survivors of human trafficking. Prostitution will remain illegal. Even countries that have decriminalized prostitution in an effort to combat trafficking and improve public health and safety, saw no increase in the number of people engaged in sex work. New Zealand decrimalized prostitution in 2003. A 2008 government study found no increase in the prevalence of prostitution since 2003, neither in the number of those providing commercial sex nor in those purchasing it.

Q. I’m very concerned about human trafficking. Will voting “Yes” have any impact on survivors of trafficking?

A. You are right to be concerned about trafficking. It is a horrific human rights abuse. Voting “Yes” will actually benefit individuals engaged in sex work against their will through force, fraud, or coercion. Trafficked individuals face enormous barriers to freedom and services because of laws and language that discriminate against and punish sex workers. Trafficking survivors are on average arrested seven times before they are able to escape exploitation because current prostitution and anti-trafficking laws make it impossible for victims and witnesses to report exploitation without risking prosecution themselves. When innocent people are arrested and prosecuted, victims face barriers to services, and exploitation proliferates in the black market. Removing the archaic language from our City Charter is an important step towards addressing trafficking into sex work in a manner that actually helps victims.

Q. Does removing this language mean we are decriminalizing prostitution?

A. No. This change will not decriminalize prostitution in Burlington; state law will continue to criminalize sex work. While we do support decriminalization because it is the only way to ensure health and safety and attainment of human rights for all, this is not what the current proposal will do.

Q. I’m hearing more about decriminalizing consensual adult sex work. Why should I care about this?

A. Unequivocal evidence shows that where sex work has been decriminalized, the health and safety of sex workers and their communities increases and trafficking decreases. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNAIDS, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, the World Health Organization, The Freedom Network, and many other leading human rights organizations recommend the full decriminalization of consensual sex work in order to address human trafficking worldwide. The insidious and problematic campaign to conflate sex work and human trafficking ends up harming those who are already the most marginalized. We must be nuanced, thoughtful, evidence-based, and pragmatic when proposing and enacting policy.

For more information on how and why decriminalization improves public health and safety and reduces trafficking visit our FAQ on sex work here.

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March 1 Election Early Voting Information

The City of Burlington will mail early voting ballots to all active, registered voters for the March 1 Annual City Election no later than February 9th. If you do not receive yours by February 16th, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (802) 865-7000.

Sample ballots in Arabic, Burmese, French, Nepali, Somali, or Swahili along with additional information about how to vote is available at https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/ct/language-support or by contacting the City Clerk’s Office. 

Once you receive your ballot, follow the instructions VERY CAREFULLY. This is important for your ballot to count! There will be two envelopes provided, one voted ballot envelope  and one mailing envelope. Make sure to put your ballot in the voted ballot envelope provided and SEAL and SIGN that envelope before putting it in the mailing envelope.

WAYS TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT

BY MAIL

The City Clerk’s office recommends mailing your signed and sealed ballot no later than Saturday, February 19th. After that date, use one of the methods below.

DROP BOX

Use an outdoor ballot drop box available 24/7 until 4:30 P.M. Monday, February 28th. Located at:

1. City Hall – Main Street (side of building, across from Flynn Theater)
2. Department of Public Works – 645 Pine Street (front of building)
3. Fire Station #2 – 132 North Avenue (rear of building)
4. Fire Station #3 – 20 Mansfield Avenue (front of building)
5. Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center – 130 Gosse Court (front of building)

CLERK/TREASURER’S OFFICE

Drop off your ballot at the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office in City Hall until 1:00 PM Monday, February 28th. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. and 1:30 P.M. until 4:30 P.M.

POLLS

You can also bring your ballot to your polling place on Election Day March 1 between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.

MORE RESOURCES

To view sample ballots, warnings, and notices visit https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CT/Sample-Ballots-Warnings-and-Notices

Not sure if you’re registered to vote or an active voter in Burlington? Check the Vermont Secretary of State’s My Voter Page at https://mvp.vermont.gov/ . Voters can register online until 1:00 P.M. February 28 or in person at the polls on Election Day March 1.