Posted on: Monday, November 18, 2002

Walk-ins minimal so far for Mink vote

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Staff Writer

Walk-in absentee voting started slowly in the special election for the remainder of late Rep. Patsy Mink's congressional term.

Walk-in voting booths opened Thursday on all islands, but fewer than 200 voters took advantage of the opportunity on the first day, according to a count collected by the state Office of Elections.

Additionally, 2,930 voters had requested absentee ballots by mail.

About half the state is eligible to vote in this election, which includes only the 2nd Congressional District — rural O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands.

In the general election, more than 100,000 voters elected to use absentee voting, either by mail or walk-in. It was a record absentee turnout.

Absentee mail requests and walk-in voting appeared to have been more active before both the primary and general elections than early in this special election. However, officials said that did not necessarily mean the special election — on Nov. 30 — would have a low turnout.

"Hopefully, these numbers will pick up," said Rex Quidilla, administrative assistant to state elections chief Dwayne Yoshina.

Nearly 180,000 voters cast ballots in the general election race, which was won by Mink, who died just after the primary. Two special elections were ordered — the Nov. 30 election to select a candidate to serve out her unexpired term, and a special election Jan. 4 for a Hawai'i 2nd Congressional District resident to take the seat for the two-year term starting in January.

Thirty-eight candidates are on the ballot for Mink's unexpired term.

The filing deadline for candidates in the Jan. 4 election is Wednesday.

For information about voting, call the elections office within the county or city clerk's office in your county, or call the state Office of Elections at 453-8683 or toll-free from the Neighbor Islands at (800) 442-8683.