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TESTIMONY (AUGUST 20, 2012) COM
Submitted by: Sharon Raniada
44 Momi Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: (808) 959-1344
I read Karin Stanton's editorial in Hawaii 24/7 News and was quite dismayed
after reading the article. The article reads, "However, numerous polling places were
late opening their doors and early voters left before casting their ballots. At one West
Hawaii polling place, a witness estimated 20 to 30 voters were turned away. At another
polling place, a witness reported 'armies' of voters who did not cast ballots."
I find people being turned away very disturbing because if I were in the same
situation, I too would be "turned off' if the polling place was not ready for me.
There are many scenarios which may apply. For instance, I could have been a
mother with children at home with a sitter; or off to work on a ten hour shift; or opted to
vote ahead of time because I usually go to vote with a friend, relative, or neighbor. I
could have had the day off from work but then my working place calls the night before to
work a ten hour shift. By the end of the day, I'm just too tired to return to vote. I went
there in the morning specifically to vote before anything else.
There could be all kinds of reasons but to say come and vote starting at this time
and not be ready is unacceptable. Whoever heard of"you're going to have to wait
because the ballots/materials are not here yet" or "if you cannot wait, come back later."
Even if the Governor extended the hours of voting, how would anyone know?
Was it communicated to all the people who were turned away or was it announced later
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on the radio? Were we supposed to have listened to the radio and make our way back
there even if we had difficulties/hardships?
I think every person has a right to vote and that freedom was taken away from
many people because of the lack of experience from the Elections Office. Not
programming the correct cell phone numbers, communication problems, inexperience,
or not dropping off voting material in time is not our problem.
What happened to training and a plan of action? We've been voting ever since
Hawaii became a State, but turning away "armies" of people or even one person in 2012
is unfathomable!
Tom Callis from Hawaii Tribune (8/17/12) writes, "The polls that opened at least
ten minutes late averaged the same turnout, while the two that opened 100 minutes
late—Kona Vistas Recreation Center and Kahakai Elementary School—had some of
the lowest election day turnouts at 17.4 percent and 14.4 percent." If we're talking
about averaging, this year would have seen a slight increase in averaging by a
minuscule percent.
Regardless, whether it's one person or one hundred one thousand, each person
has a right-- a freedom of choice through voting. I can understand room for error, but
this error of not opening in time due to ballots and precinct material not being available
is a disgrace. Voters went at a time you specified they could vote.
The Council along with the State needs to take action. Holding someone
accountable is not enough. Do you realize people with different scenarios were denied
the right to vote? Either someone needs to be fired and/or the voting process done
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again for every affected precinct so that justice can be served. We're not looking for "a
slap on the wrist." We're looking for the right of every voter to be exercised!
Thank you for your time.
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SPECIAL MG
Murashige, Laura
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From: Sharon [Sharon808 @live.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 4:37 PM 2012
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Monday, 8/20/2012
Attachments: Testimony.docx
Dear Chairman Yagong:
I had planned to attend the special Council meeting on Monday but received a call today to
attend a meeting on Monday in Honolulu. I fly out Sunday night so I would like to request if
your staff could please print out the attachment for me and present it to Council as testimony
on Monday. I understand you need fourteen copies. If there is a charge for making fourteen
copies, please let me know and I will reimburse you when I return to Hilo during the week.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the voters here on the Big Island.
Aloha nui loa,
Sharon Raniada
(808) 959-1344
Cell: (808) 896-5067
8/20/2012