According to the general laws of this state, voter registration and absentee/early voting are the responsibility of the county. In the weeks leading up to the 2012 primary election, Hawaii County launched an aggressive voting campaign emphasizing the importance of public participation in government, voter registration and absentee/early voting choices. In the 2012 primary, for the first time in Hawaii County’s history, the number of people voting absentee/early voting exceeded the number of voters who cast their ballots at precincts. Of the 101,728 registered voters in the primary, 43,353 voted, reflecting a 42.6 percent total registered voter turnout. This is a 3.1 percent increase in total registered voter turnout in the primary compared with 2010. Of those who voted, 53 percent, or 23,101 voters, voted absentee/early voting. 47 percent, or 20,252 voters, voted the traditional way, at the polls. Heading into the General Election, some 104,323 Hawaii County residents are registered to vote. As of Oct. 15, 22,200 Hawaii County voters requested and will receive mailed absentee/early voting ballots, with requests for mailed ballots continuing to be received and processed by Hawaii County all the way up until the Oct. 30 deadline for absentee mail ballots. Early walk-in voting will begin Oct. 23 and end Nov. 3.
According to the general laws of this state, voter registration and absentee/early voting are the responsibility of the county. In the weeks leading up to the 2012 primary election, Hawaii County launched an aggressive voting campaign emphasizing the importance of public participation in government, voter registration and absentee/early voting choices. In the 2012 primary, for the first time in Hawaii County’s history, the number of people voting absentee/early voting exceeded the number of voters who cast their ballots at precincts. Of the 101,728 registered voters in the primary, 43,353 voted, reflecting a 42.6 percent total registered voter turnout. This is a 3.1 percent increase in total registered voter turnout in the primary compared with 2010. Of those who voted, 53 percent, or 23,101 voters, voted absentee/early voting. 47 percent, or 20,252 voters, voted the traditional way, at the polls. Heading into the General Election, some 104,323 Hawaii County residents are registered to vote. As of Oct. 15, 22,200 Hawaii County voters requested and will receive mailed absentee/early voting ballots, with requests for mailed ballots continuing to be received and processed by Hawaii County all the way up until the Oct. 30 deadline for absentee mail ballots. Early walk-in voting will begin Oct. 23 and end Nov. 3.
This year, for the first time:
1. More voter registration drives and educational sessions were held islandwide than in previous years during the day and in the evenings.
2. Permanent absentee voting applications were mailed to every registered voter in Hawaii County and registered voters were strongly encouraged to vote by mail. As of mid-October 2012, the number of people registered to vote by mail increased from 6,400 in 2010 to 22,200 in 2012, a 288 percent increase in voters who registered to vote by mail.
3. All registered voters were strongly encouraged to vote early at early walk-in voting locations on the island, in Waimea, Hilo and Kona. Voting was opened to all registered voters at any early walk-in voting precinct on the island, regardless of district/residency assignment. Voters who reside in Kona may vote in Hilo, or Waimea and vice versa.
4. To increase youth participation in government, a public education/voter registration project, the Hawaii County High School County Council was launched for Hawaii County high school students. More youth programs designed to increase youth participation in government at the grade school level are planned for this year.
In the primary, numerous irregularities occurred, resulting in the late opening of precincts in Hawaii County and the governor’s executive order to keep Hawaii County precincts open for an extra 90 minutes.
According to the general laws of the state, precincts are the responsibility of the state, and this provides some legal basis for the state’s recent decision to assume greater responsibility and accountability for Hawaii County precinct activities for the General Election.
Both the county and the state will be ready for their respective duties and responsibilities for Hawaii County precinct activity for the General Election. Hawaii County has always done all it can to assist the state with elections, including this year. In moving forward, let’s concentrate on what matters most: your choices and your votes.
This year, Hawaii County made it clear to all voters that your vote counts, that the public is the priority, that you have choices, and that you are needed and included in government. Government is you, and like you, government can dream, do and be whatever and whomever you want it to be, as long as you make your opinions and your choices known to it.
Concentrate on what matters most: your choices and your votes.
Do not give up the opportunity to let your county, state and nation hear your voice and know that your vote, and your opinion, counts.
Jamae Kawauchi is the Hawaii County clerk.