HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. 017.1 - 2021-10-20 Lui: Counting Incarcerated Hawaii Residents
COMMUNICATION 017.1
BRONSTEN-GLENN KOSSOWMEIZHU LUI
DWAYNE YOSHINA
Chairperson
JENNIFER YADAO
STEPHANIE BATH
JAMES HUSTACE
AINA AKAMU
Vice Chairperson
STEPHEN LOPEZ
2021
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
DATE:October 20, 2021
TO:Bronsten-Glenn Kossow, Commission Chairperson
C:members of the Redistricting Commission
Commission staff
FROM:Meizhu Lui,CommissionerDistrict 1
SUBJECT: CountingIncarceratedHawaiiResidents
Our Commission has been concerned about how and where those incarcerated in Hawaii County
are counted for Redistricting purposes. Currently they are counted in the District in which the
prison where they are incarcerated is located. Within the 10 years in which Districts stay set, they
are more than likely to return to those other places of residence, and will not be voting from
where they are imprisoned.In our view, this inflates the population in Districts where there are
prison populations and gives them greater representation than is fair.
We were advised that Hawaiistate law does not allow us to allocate incarcerated residents to
Districts which they identify as their homes.
Therefore, I propose that we write to the State Election Committee and to ourState
Representatives and Senators, and whomever has the authority, asking them to change the rules
so that in the 2030 Redistricting process, incarcerated people will be counted in the places they
designate as their permanent residences.
Please place this item on the October 28, 2021 agenda. Thank you.
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