Hawaii voter registration spikes after low-turnout primary
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Motivated by the Nov. 4 presidential election, it appears that more Hawai'i residents registered to vote after the Sept. 20 primary election than in any similar period in state history.
Registration closed Monday, but the count of newly registered voters is continuing and expected to grow substantially.
The tally as of yesterday showed 696,000 people registered for the Nov. 4 general election, compared with 667,647 for the Sept. 20 primary election, according to the state Office of Elections. That's an increase of more than 28,000.
A final report is due early next week, according to the state Office of Elections.
O'ahu already has about 470,000 registered in the general election versus 450,000 in the primary. The increase between elections is the largest ever for O'ahu.
The current record for new voters between a primary and general election was set in 1992, when 31,722 new voters registered. Interest in national politics that year was high, with Democrat Bill Clinton and independent H. Ross Perot challenging George H.W. Bush for presidency.
The expected record for new registered voters since the primary is attributed to a perfect storm of polarizing forces:
"It suggests that the turnout during the general election will be significant," said Kevin Cronin, the state's chief elections officer. "There are a lot of issues that people are discussing and reading about and seeing on television that have created an awareness and increased the energy surrounding the process."
AFTER A RECORD LOW
The increase in registration follows a primary election with a turnout of only 37 percent of registered voters statewide, the lowest total in state history, according to the elections office.
Several other states have reported increases in voter registration this year, an indication that more people are interested in the presidential campaign.
Neal Milner, a political scientist and ombudsman at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, credited the increased excitement to Obama, a Punahou School graduate, and to voter registration efforts by Democrats and Republicans hoping to swing a tight election in their favor.
In the primary, Hannemann fell just under the threshold for re-election and was forced into a runoff with Kobayashi, who finished ahead of UH-Manoa engineering professor Panos Prevedouros.
The Hannemann campaign hopes the increase in registered voters leads to greater turnout — something it hopes will favor the incumbent. His campaign is working hard to mobilize its base while targeting new voters in part by also campaigning and fundraising for Obama, said A.J. Halagao, Hannemann's campaign co-chair.
"Barack Obama has inspired a generation of voters on the Mainland and here in Hawai'i," Halagao said. "Because Mayor Hannemann has been such a strong supporter of Obama we do feel that will help Mayor Hannemann and we welcome their support."
City Council member Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Kobayashi's campaign manager, said the increase in registered voters illustrates the public's desire for change, not only in the White House but also at Honolulu Hale.
He attributed the increase in O'ahu registered voters to a genuine belief among Hannemann's opponents that the incumbent is vulnerable and that Kobayashi is a sensible candidate who will listen to the people and respond to their needs.
"People know Ann Kobayashi has the momentum because most people who vote want a change. Now that they see change is real and change is possible they've registered to vote," Dela Cruz said.
Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
