Vermonters Favor Four-Year Term for Governor According to Snelling Center Survey

In testimony before the Government Operations Committee of the Vermont Senate, Charlie Smith, President of the Snelling Center for Government, presented the findings from 15 months of survey and outreach work on the question of whether Vermont's elected leaders should have four-year terms of office.

Smith said, “Our primary conclusion is that more than 58 percent of Vermonters favor a four-year term for the governor and statewide elected officials.” Further, Smith said, “Support for changing the senate term to four years hovers around 50 percent, and a majority of Vermonters oppose changing the term length for Vermont's state representatives.”

The Snelling Center's research included statistically valid random sample surveys in October 2006 and 2007. It also included 900 responses from surveys administered on the Web, in-group meetings around the state, and by paper ballot through the mail.

The study also concluded that from the random sample, over 70 percent of Independents, 64 percent of Republicans, 53 percent of Democrats and 33 percent of Progressives favor the four-year term for governor; active voters tend to favor the four-year term more than less active voters and that there is little variation based on age, gender or income level.

Most participants reported that they favored the four-year term because “there would be fewer election cycles and less politics.” Two other frequently cited reasons for support were, “it would allow better long term planning for Vermont” and “it would allow more time to solve complex problems.” The most commonly cited reason for opposing a four-year term was, “it would reduce the accountability of the governor to the voters.”

“Based on this work,” Smith said, “the Snelling Center recommends that the Legislature advance an amendment proposal so that the four-year term will be debated during the election-year.” The amendment process requires consideration again in the next legislative session. “With election-year input” Smith said, “the Legislature can make a fully informed final decision in 2009 on whether a proposal should go to the voters.” Any proposal to amend Vermont's constitution must pass through two consecutive biennial sessions of the legislature and then obtain a majority vote of the public.