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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 260 Draft 01 1998-2000 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 260 00 RESOLUTION FOR FAIR AND EQUITABLE ELECTIONS WHEREAS, fair and equitable elections are the hallmazk of a democratic society and aze essential to citizens' faith in their government and their pazticipation in elections; and WHEREAS, the appeazance of conflict of interest can be detrimental to citizens' faith in the fairness of the election process; and WHEREAS, the State Chief of Elections delegates the conduct of elections to the County Clerks in their respective counties and there goes with that delegation the County Clerks' adherence to all provisions of the State election laws; and WHEREAS, absentee walk-in voting has increased in Hawai `i County to fifteen percent of the total vote in 1998 and, has in the past, and can be in the future the determining votes in the outcome of close contests for candidates or amendments; and WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii funds the cost of absentee walk-in ballots out of the $444,342 election budget for 2000 and has failed in the past to abide by all the provisions of the State election laws in the absentee walk-in polls; and WHEREAS, County employees and retired county employees have worked and supervise the five absentee walk-in polls; and WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Clerk's Office-Elections Division has not to date followed State election laws (Sec. 11-72) regazding the presence of poll watchers and division precinct workers from all political parties at the five absentee walk-in polls; and WHEREAS, the availability of absentee walk-in polls is a convenience for working people and those unable to get to the polls on election day; and WHEREAS, the available hours to vote at the absentee walk-in polls are not equal with the Hilo County Building poll open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Keauhou Shopping Center poll is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Saturdays and the Waimea Community Center poll, the Pahala Community Center poll, and the Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union poll in North Kohala are open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and closed on Saturdays; and WHEREAS, the number of precinct workers and poll watchers needed on election day and during the Yen-day period the absentee walk-in polls are open can reach several hundred and political parties have failed in the past to submit adequate number of volunteers to work in the polls. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the County Clerk will abide by all of the State election law provisions in the operation of the absentee walk-in polls. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no person with an obvious conflict of interest, such as key members of candidate's campaigns or members of the Charter Commission, be selected for the Chair or as a member of the Election Observer Team. This would not apply to a person's party membership or contributions to candidates. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during the ten-day period the time the polls are open should be equal at all five of the absentee walk-in polls; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any budget cuts from either the State or County that effect the number of precinct workers that can be hired will be evenly distributed throughout Hawaii County so that no precinct is at a personal disadvantage in processing voters on election day or at the absentee walk-in polls; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Office of Elections will actively recruit precinct worker volunteers from sources other than retired County and State employees and their family members. Examples of other sources aze ones such as churches, the University of Hawaii, Hilo and the Hawai `i Community College in Hilo and Kealakekua. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the County Clerk and Chief Election Officer of the State of Hawaii. DATED: Hilo, Hawaii this day of , 2000 INTRODUCED BY: ~C$S C CIL MEMBER OUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii Aves NOES ABS Ex H110, H3Wa1`1 ARAKAKI CHUNG 1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ELARIONOFF The vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the JACOBSON County of Hawaii on LEITHEAD-TODD PISICCHIO ATTEST: SMITH TYLER YAGONG Reference: C-787/FC COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.__ 2„6O OO