Residents take advantage of registration drive

Kailua-Kona resident Chase Richmond will be heading off to college in Canada, but still remains passionate about having a say in the upcoming elections.

Within minutes, the 18-year-old registered to vote for the first time and requested to receive an absentee ballot during Thursday’s voter registration drive in front of Kmart. He was one of more than 100 Big Island residents who took advantage of the Kona drive, manned by volunteers from The League of Women Voters of Hawaii Island and the American Association of University Women.

“I figured I should register because I’m finally of age, and it would be a good way to give back,” he said. “It’s sort of a rite of passage. Voting is a right and responsibility I now have as an adult. I found it a little powerful to able to have a voice and I plan to use that power to vote.”

Chase was “mostly paying attention to the presidential race” because he was “interested in the bigger picture” and the direction the country was heading. Accompanying him to the drive was his father, Dwayne Richmond, to make sure everything was correctly filled out and submitted. Although Dwayne, who is a citizen of New Zealand, doesn’t vote here, his wife does, and she has taken their children to the polls for years to experience the excitement of Election Day, as well as understand how important it is to be an active participant in democracy.

“It’s important that our children are civic-minded, and they learn good habits like voting, which can result in changes that affect generations,” Dwayne said. “I remember the first time I voted at 18 and how exciting it was to be an adult and make decisions for yourself. For now, I just want him experience the process and decide for himself what he thinks of it, including whether he will decide to keep on doing it or not.”

Thursday was the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 11 primary election. However, those who like to vote in the Nov. 6 general election have until Oct. 8 to register. Wikiwiki voter registration forms are available at county elections offices, state services agencies, U.S. post offices and public libraries, as well as on the state Office of Elections website, hawaii.gov/elections, and in most telephone directories.

To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a Hawaii resident and be 18 years old by primary or general election day.

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii annually participates in the drive because of its mission to engage and empower people to actively participate in government. Voting is the first step, and the next is becoming informed, said board member Susan Dursin.

The volunteers helped register voters, update information and submit absentee ballot applications, as well as answer questions and direct interested voters to Vote411.org, a website with information about elections and candidates.

Since Wednesday, Dursin said the Kona drive had “quite a large turnout” of first-time voters, mostly younger adults, of which several were headed to college and wanted absentee ballots. For the primary, the absentee walk-in voting period is July 30 through Aug. 9 and the last day to request an absentee mail ballot is Aug. 4. For the general election, voters may request an absentee ballot from Sept. 7 to Oct. 3, and the walk-in voting period is Oct. 23 through Nov. 3. All absentee ballots must be returned to the county clerk by 6 p.m. on Election Day.

Three new U.S. citizens had registered to vote at the Kona drive as of 11 a.m. Thursday. Several residents also came to the drive to reregister, which is required for those who have legally changed their name, moved from one precinct or county to another, or changed their mailing address since the last election, Dursin said.

Kailua-Kona resident Nicholas Roloff, 35, has voted during every election since he came of age. He went to Thursday’s drive to reregister and submit a permanent absentee ballot.

“I’m a taxpayer, and I want to make sure we have good people in charge of my money,” he said, revealing his reasons for voting.

Leilani Fleming reregistered because she moved back to the Big Island from Honolulu since the last election. The 73-year-old Kealakekua resident is a lifetime voter and was enthusiastic about this election, particularly the mayoral and state Senate races.

An issue that Fleming cared most about was development, something she wants to slow down. She stressed the importance of preserving agricultural land and protecting open space.

“Voting is my opportunity to believe in and support key people running,” Fleming said. “There are several candidates who I think are honest, have served before and will continue to do good work.”