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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-23-2024 - COH Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee Minutes 4o`,NZV^OF k{q'i Deanna S.Sako Managing Director Mitchell D.Roth +: Mayor Robert H.Command Deputy Managing Director Gunk of"Puftyal"i (Offirr of f r aVor 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 * Hilo, Hawaii 96720 * (808)961-8211 Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C * Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 * Fax(808)323-4440 County of Hawaii Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee Minutes Friday, April 19, 2024, 11 a.m. Pueo Conference Room 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2601, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 11.06 am by Chair, Ivan Hegent. 2. Roll Call Present members- Allan Hegent, Ivan Hegent, Elissa Byrne. Others present- Cori Saiki (Elections Office), Jon Henricks (Clerk's Office), J Yoshimoto (Corp Counsel), Pomaika`i Bartolome (Acting Secretary) 3. Statements from the Public on Agenda Items Donald Sakamoto introduced himself as the Chair of the Honolulu Advisory Committee. 4. Election of Vice Chair and Secretary Motion to Postpone- Ivan Hegent (Chair) 2nd that motion- Allan Hegent Discussion- None All in Favor- Yes (Ivan, Allan, Elissa) 5. Discussion regarding Outreach and Education for Accessibility Voting Needs Ivan Hegent (Chair) will be meeting with Robert Efford, CEO of The Arc of Hilo to discuss the need for voting accessibility. Elissa Byrne (Committee member) Handout materials are needed, the possibility of providing braille ballots, accessibility to the website, and the possibility of providing tactile materials. Allan Hegent (Committee member) Asked when the voting machines would be available for voting. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Cori Saiki (County Office of Elections) The Office of Elections should receive election voting machines in July. This is for the voter stations, and others may be used for demos. J Yoshimoto (Attorney — Corporation Counsel) The Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee may recommend to the Office of Elections how the committee can get more outreach information to the community. The sooner that recommendation gets to the State, the sooner they can activate it. 6. Discussion regarding Outreach and Education for Accessibility Voting Needs Donald Sakamoto (Chair - Oahu Elections Committee) Proposed an email blast to educate and spread the word regarding outreach initiatives. Cori Saiki (County Office of Elections) There are no dates set yet but will be doing storefront registration drives. The target dates are mid-July and September for store-front registration and information outreach. 7. Discussion regarding Recommendations to the Office of Elections Allow committee members to collaborate with the County Elections Office to coordinate outreach efforts and provide recommendations to the State of Hawaii Elections Office. Motion: Allan 2nd motion: Elissa Discussion? No. All in favor: Yes. Motion passes. J Yoshimoto (Attorney — Corporation Counsel) Advise the Mayor to propose what the committee would like to do—elections outreach. Ivan Hegent (Chair) Interested in doing the outreach for education and information on voting. Cori Saiki (Office of Elections) The Office of Elections would and could partner with the committee, provide equipment and voting material, and assist in the set up of tables and chairs. Motion to do Outreach and Education with the Elections Office Elissa: Motion to do Outreach and Education with the Elections Office. Allan: 2nd the motion. Discussion: None. All those in favor: Unanimous. Motion Passes. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 8. Discussion regarding Public Service Announcements and Media Release messaging. Ivan: Updates on news. Tribune-Herald. Radio PSA. Allan, Motion: To reach out to the community through public service announcements for the election's accessibility needs to voting. 2nd: Elissa. Discussion? No. All in favor: Yes. Jon: Voter registration stations. Need Committee input and thoughts to assist with accessibility needs. User-friendly experience, build relationships in the community. Donald: Having transportation for voting. Handi-Van, etc. Donald: Meeting, April 26, 2024, Zoom (Honolulu Committee/James Castro) Mail in ballots and voter centers. 9. Next Meeting Date and Time Friday, May 17, 2024, at 11 am. 10.Adiournment: The meeting adjourned at 12.45 pm County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.