After some false starts and the usual legislative dithering, automatic voter registration (AVR) became a “motherhood bill” for the 2021 Legislature; it enjoyed nearly unanimous support among community, social interest and labor groups. Hawaii was not a leader in the move. Already 20 states have passed AVR laws. Read column on Honolulu Star Advertiser.
I am happy to see that automatic voter registration (AVR) became a reality this year. As an honors undergraduate who testified in support of AVR, I would like to think that lawmakers took into consideration the voices of my generation. After all, Hawaii’s future is in our hands. AVR is the logical next step after …
Hawaii needs automatic voter registration. Gov. David Ige should sign Senate Bill 159 into law. The pandemic has shown the life-and-death difference local and national elected officials can have on our lives. But on average, the young people I meet as a community college instructor are completely alienated from electoral politics. Even (sometimes especially) politically …
Supporters of the measure say AVR will make registering to vote more convenient and cost-effective, and would keep the voter registration rolls more current. “It breaks down barriers for people who otherwise wouldn’t engage,” said the bill’s author Sen. Chris Lee (D-Oahu) in a March 8 talk story. Read on West Hawaii Today.
That is why I am so encouraged by the increased civic engagement I see among our Micronesian youth, and why I believe passing automatic voter registration will help improve access to the ballot for Micronesian voices so that the opportunity is present for them to be heard at the highest levels of policymaking and government. …
Column: Getting young Micronesians to vote in Hawaii Read More »
Registering to vote in Hawaii may seem easy, and compared to labyrinthine requirements in many other states, it is. But to people experiencing homelessness, our system’s prerequisites can make casting a ballot impossible. Kristen Alice is director of community relations for Hope Services Hawaii, and vice chairperson for Community Alliance Partners, a coalition of social …
Column: Poverty, houselessness should not mean loss of voting rights Read More »
Don’t let scare tactics prevent Hawaii from advancing voter security and easing barrier to voter registration. Hawaii is better than that! Sandy MaExecutive director, Common Cause Hawaii
The other argument raised was that registered voters would lose control over their personal information. Let’s be honest about the information that is already in your voter registration file. The full name, address, district/precinct and voter status (whether you voted in recent elections) is already publicly available. Piilani Kaopuiki is the current president of the …
Community Voice: The Legislature Should Pass Automatic Registration Read More »
Sounds simple and commonsensical, doesn’t it? And yet this simple procedure would yield an estimated cost savings to the state of more than a million dollars per election cycle. No small matter when the state is crying poverty at every turn and looking for savings. John Webster is a former government affairs executive at IBM …
Automatic Voter Registration: It’s Time Has Come Read More »
“The League of Women Voters of Hawaii County strongly supports Automatic Voter Registration and urges all Big Island legislators help enact this important legislation in this legislative session.” Rosemarie MullerPresident, League of Women Voters of Hawaii County
