RES 173 Draft 01 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII �JM<Y Os MjqI' .O r ro.•''.` T� OF RESOLUTION NO. STATE OF HAWAII A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO INCLUDE IN THEIR 2012 LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE A REQUEST TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR VOTE BY MAIL THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAII FOR ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY PRIMARY, GENERAL, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS, AND TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has had a historically low voter turnout, as illustrated in Exhibit B; and WHEREAS, in the 2010 Primary Election, the State of Hawaii had 684,481 registered voters, but only 293,016 people voted (42.8%). Of that 293,016 people, 129,980 voters were absentee (19.0%); and WHEREAS, in 2010 General Election, the State of Hawaii had 690,748 registered voters, but only 385,464 people voted (55.8%). Of that 385,464 voters, 163,277 of the voters were absentee (23.6%); and WHEREAS, Oregon has had Vote By Mail elections since 1998. The 2004 Oregon election was one of the most contentious and closely scrutinized elections in Oregon history, and proved to be efficient and voter friendly. That year, Oregon had the third highest voter turnout in the nation at 86.48% of registered voters. Of the five states with the highest voter turnout in 2004, Oregon was the only state without same-day voter registration. In 2008, Oregon achieved 85.7% voter turnout; and WHEREAS, Vote By Mail is convenient. When this pilot program is implemented, voters will not have to stand in lines at the polls, take time off from work, drive in bad weather to precincts, or wait for their turn at a limited number of polling booths, and an illness or personal emergency on Election Day will not keep them from voting; and WHEREAS, voter fraud can be protected against by utilizing a Vote By Mail program similar to the one used in Oregon, where every voter signature is verified to ensure that the voter is who they claim to be; and