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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 8, 2007

We must find ways to get voters to polls

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House Bill 1041 is in the Judiciary Committee. Contact: Judiciary Chairman Tommy Waters, 586-9450 or repwaters@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Bill 764 is sponsored by Rep. Kirk Caldwell, 586-8475 or repcaldwell@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Bill 1133 is sponsored by Rep. Calvin Say, 596-6100 or repsay@capitol.hawaii.gov

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Given Hawai'i's dismal voter turnout record — ours is among the lowest in the nation — coming up with ways to get voters to the polls should find a spot on lawmakers' agendas this session.

About 53 percent of the state's registered voters cast ballots last November, a new low. In 2002 and 2004, Hawai'i's voter turnout was the lowest in the nation, according to U.S. Census figures.

With the 2008 election fast approaching, legislators should engage in wide-ranging discussions on several options that can increase participation such as online voting.

Among the handful of bills percolating at the Capitol, one measure that deserves a careful look is House Bill 1041, which would conduct all elections by mail, similar to a system used in Oregon. So far, Oregon's results are impressive: voter turnouts nearing 90 percent and cost reductions of 30 percent.

The bill is stalled in the Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers should at least move it out for discussion, using Oregon's experience as a guide, and perhaps look at testing the vote-by-mail process in a few precincts at first.

Another measure, House Bill 764, which makes mail-in voting easier for those who want it by creating a permanent absentee voter list, is a modest but sensible approach. This would eliminate the inconvenience of having to sign up for absentee ballots for each election.

Same-day registration, House Bill 1133, allows voters to register on election day just before casting their ballots. While convenient, the bill doesn't sufficiently address the potential for fraud and the need for broad eligibility checks, nor has it proven to significantly increase turnout in other states. What might work, however, is narrowing the 30-day registration window, to allow more time for folks to register.

With several options on the table, legislators have the opportunity to help lift Hawai'i's low voter turnout rate. Let's hope they don't let that chance pass them by.