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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 267 Draft 01 1998-2000 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. ? RESOLUTION FOR FAIR AND EQUITABLE ELECTIONS WHEREAS, fair and equitable elections are the hallmark of a democratic society and are essential to citizens' faith in their government and their participation in elections; and WHEREAS, even the appearance 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 that inherent with that delegation is the County Clerks' adherence to all provisions of the State election laws; and WHEREAS, absentee walk-in voting has increased in Hawaii 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, current and retired County employees have worked and supervised 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 Primary Election Day and on General Election Day; and WHEREAS, the available hours and days to vote at the absentee walk-in polls are not the same in all locations, as the Hawaii County Building poll in Hilo is open on weekdays from 8 am. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; while the Keauhou Shopping Center poll is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays 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 all open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and closed on Saturdays; and WHEREAS, the number of precinct workers and poll watchers needed on election day and during the ten-day period the absentee walk-in polls are open can reach several hundred and political parties have failed in the past to submit adequate numbers of volunteers to work in the polls. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that officers of candidates' campaigns or members of the Charter Commission may not be selected as the Chair of the Election Observer Team; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during the ten-day absentee walk-in period the polls will be open identical hours and days at all five of the absentee walk-in polls; and 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 personnel disadvantage in processing voters on election day or at the absentee walk-in polls; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Office of Elections will actively recruit precinct worker volunteers from sources in addition to current and retired County and State employees and their family members. Examples of other sources are: churches, the University of Hawaii, Hilo and the Hawaii Community College in Hilo and in Kealakekua. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that once approved copies of this resolution be furnished to the Hawaii County Clerk, County Elections Program Manager, and County Chairs of legally recognized political parties and the State Chief Elections Officer. DATED: Hilo, Hawaii this day of , 2000 INTR UCED ~Y: C CIL MEMBER OUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX H110, HaWal`I ARAKAKI CHUNG I 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 PISICCH[O ATTEST: SMITH TYLER YAGONG Reference: ~-803~FC COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO._ ~6,7 ~