Walk-in vote up statewide on 1st day

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Hotly contested races for president and Honolulu mayor have helped lure more residents to voting booths yesterday, the first day of absentee walk-in voting for the general election.

David J. Williams, 98, who voted yesterday at Honolulu Hale, recalls using his first presidential vote on Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Among those voting yesterday was David J. Williams, who is two months shy of 99 years old, and can recall first voting for Calvin Coolidge for president in 1924. A retired civilian Navy employee, Williams said he is a lifelong Republican who will vote for President Bush because he wants to support the GOP president. "Being a Republican, I guess it's my duty to vote for Bush." He said he also voted for Duke Bainum in the mayor's race.

Williams, a Waikiki resident, said he votes absentee because he walks slowly and doesn't want to hold up others on Election Day. Williams said he's disheartened that a smaller percentage of people in Hawai'i vote compared with days past. "I think that's too bad; it's our duty to vote, and that's why we've been given that privilege," he said.

On O'ahu, city elections administrator Glen Takahashi said 2,347 voters went through the turnstiles yesterday, up from the 1,313 votes cast on the first day in 2002. Takahashi said he's not certain that's a record, but "I believe that's the highest, at least in recent years."

Even at the Kapolei polling site, typically the slowest for the city, there were 212 voters today where there were fewer than 100 votes cast two years ago, Takahashi said.

During this year's primary, there were 1,161 votes cast on the first day of absentee walk-in voting, a 56 percent increase over the first day of 2002 primary absentee voting.

Takahashi said there were no reports of any unusual glitches.

In Hawai'i County, there were 964 votes cast yesterday. That's up from the the 627 cast on the first day in the 2002 general, according to Al Konishi, Hawai'i County clerk.

"Maybe this means we're going to have a good turnout for the general," he said, noting that turnout for the primary election was dismal.

Kaua'i County recorded 483 absentee walk-in votes cast yesterday. County Clerk Peter Nakamura said while he didn't have exact numbers, that appears to be higher than both the primary and the general election from two years ago. "It's one of the higher votes we've had," he said.

Maui County reported 377 absentee votes cast yesterday. County elections specialist Shirley Magarifuji said that's higher than the 208 absentee votes cast on the first day of absentee voting in the 2002 election. Magarifuji said Maui County typically has less absentee walk-in, but many more mail-in votes than Kaua'i County.

O'ahu residents waiting to vote at City Hall yesterday said the presidential and mayoral races were foremost on their minds.

Benjamin Waiolama, a 70-year-old Nu'uanu resident, said it was critical for voters to go to the polls this year. The Vietnam War veteran also said he believes that the people's choice for president will determine how the war in Iraq is played out.

Waiolama said he is voting for John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, because "I initially supported (the war) but the end result has been very deceiving and I'm angry."

Camilo Villanueva Jr., 44, also said his motivation for heading to the ballot booth was the Iraq war. "Bush is not telling people the truth," the Kalihi dishwasher said.

But there were also some pro-Bush people voting yesterday. George Kushima, a Kapi'olani area retiree, said he heard the presidential debates and figures it makes more sense to keep the incumbent in office during the duration of the war. "I don't think Kerry can make any changes," said Kushima, 75. "Not until everything cools down, anyway."

George and Joy Saunter, two Ala Moana area retirees, said they're in a quandary because they realize the presidential race is critical this year but they don't like either candidate.

"This might be the one time I don't vote for either presidential candidate," said George Saunter, 77. "I have real concerns about both of them."

Mayoral candidate Mufi Hannemann seemed to be favored in an unscientific, small sampling of voters.

Lynn Albertson, 60, a Wai'alae Iki psychologist, said she "definitely" was supporting Hannemann. "I like to see the local people get into these kinds of government positions in Hawai'i and not have the decision based on who has the most money," she said.

But Bainum had his supporters as well.

Jeff Gaskell, a Makiki firefighter, said he voted for Bainum because of his support for mandatory leasehold conversion for condominiums. Gaskell said he has a personal stake in that issue because he owns a leasehold condominium.

Gaskell said he also supports Bainum because "he seems like more of an outsider and I like the idea of someone who's not part of the old system."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.