By Lynn LaFleur

When voters go to the polls this November, they will be making decisions about candidates for many important offices. But there is one race that is easy to overlook—and perhaps one of the most important to understand: the election of our Justices of the Peace, who serve as members of the Board of Civil Authority.

Why does this matter?

Because these are the people who help make our elections work.

On Election Day, members of the Board of Civil Authority are not simply names on a ballot. They are the people working at the polls, greeting voters at check-in, overseeing the voting process, monitoring the ballot tabulator and helping ensure that every ballot is properly accounted for.

And when the polls close, their work is far from finished.

Election officials must reconcile the numbers, verify the records and make sure that the ballots cast correspond with the voters who checked in and out. The process requires concentration, cooperation and, often, patience. On a busy Election Day, this work can continue late into the evening, long after most voters have gone home.

That is why the composition of the Board matters.

Our election system is designed to include participation from different major political parties. That balance is not about creating political conflict. Quite the opposite. It is about having people with different political affiliations participate together in the administration and oversight of our elections.

When the Board is balanced, the responsibility is shared.

Stowe learned the importance of that balance two years ago.

The election of Justices of the Peace left the Board without sufficient representation from one of the major political parties. As a result, two additional Republican members were appointed for election-related responsibilities, increasing the Board from the 12 members elected by voters to 14.

Then came the August primary.

All three Republican members were away on vacation on Election Day. That created an additional challenge for the Town Clerk and the other election officials working that evening. Finding appropriate pairings of election officials became more difficult, and the process of counting ballots and verifying the election records became more challenging.

No one did anything wrong. Life happens. People have vacations, family obligations and other commitments.

But the experience exposed a weakness in the Board’s makeup.

It is a reminder that representation on the Board isn’t merely a matter of political labels. It has practical consequences on Election Day.

This November, Stowe voters will elect 15 members of the Board of Civil Authority—three more than were elected two years ago because of the town’s population growth.

That means voters have an opportunity to think differently about this race.

Don’t vote down party lines simply because a candidate has a particular party label. Instead, consider making your selections thoughtfully and distributing your votes among qualified candidates from different parties so that the resulting Board has balanced representation.

A politically balanced Board doesn’t belong to Democrats, Republicans or any other political group.

It belongs to Stowe.

And the responsibility of ensuring that our elections are conducted carefully, transparently and efficiently belongs to all of us.

We often hear about the importance of protecting our elections. We talk about voter participation, secure ballots and public confidence. But election integrity isn’t just about what happens inside a ballot box. It is also about the people who stay after the polls close to do the painstaking work of accounting for every ballot and every voter.

Those people matter.

So, when you are filling out your ballot this November, take a moment to look carefully at the candidates for Justice of the Peace. Consider who is running, consider the composition of the Board, and consider the importance of maintaining a balance of representation.

Election administration belongs to all of us—not to any one political party.

A Board that reflects the diversity of our community and includes balanced political representation helps strengthen confidence in the process for everyone. And ultimately, that is something every Stowe voter should value.

Our elections belong to everyone. Their oversight should, too.

The author is a Stowe resident and candidate for Vermont Senate.