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HAWAI'I STATE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS <br /> MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Beppie Shapiro, President <br /> September 17, 2012 808-732-6237 <br /> lwv-hawaii.com beppie@hawaii.edu <br /> Hawaii State League of Women Voters Recommends Response to Hawaii County Primary <br /> Elections Problems <br /> Honolulu: To ensure a smooth general election in Hawaii County and restore voter <br /> confidence, the Hawaii State League of Women Voters recommends specific actions by the <br /> Hawaii County Council and its Clerk, and an investigation by the State Elections <br /> Commission. <br /> In a democracy, every vote matters: each vote is the choice of a unique individual about what <br /> kind of government s/he wants. Collecting and recording those votes gives meaning to <br /> democracy. Over the years, members of State and County Leagues of Women Voters throughout <br /> Hawaii have worked with many public officials who register voters and run elections. Members <br /> of the Hawaii State League of Women Voters served on the 2002 Election Review Task Force, <br /> and in 2012 as in past elections our members have volunteered in polling places and the State <br /> Control and Counting Centers. <br /> This year, we have been troubled by a number of serious issues on the island of Hawai`i which <br /> cumulatively may have diminished voters' confidence in the Hawaii County Elections Office. <br /> We are concerned about an apparent lack of communication and transparency from the County <br /> Clerk with the press and public. Press conferences may have explained prior actions, but the time <br /> lag between actions and explanations fostered an air of mistrust. The State Elections Office <br /> complained about unreturned calls and emails to the County Elections Office. Staff terminations, <br /> unexpected leaves of absence, complaints of inadequate staffing, and miscommunications led to <br /> what one journalist called "chaos" on Primary Election Day. <br /> Hawaii County and the State share responsibility for operation of elections on the Big Island. <br /> According to state elections law (HRS 11-184), the County is responsible for voter registration, <br /> absentee ballots and operation of early voting locations; the State is responsible for hiring <br /> precinct officials for election day, monitoring election day operations, collection of walk-in <br /> ballots and tabulation of all ballots. Responsibility for some functions is not clearly specified in <br />