Democrats brace for big turnout

Hawaii Democrats gather today for a presidential preference poll headlined by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the outcome will hinge on who actually makes time to vote on this holiday weekend.

The preference poll is being held later than usual this year, and some observers initially worried the timing during spring break and a day after Good Friday could suppress voter turnout.

But that no longer appears likely, and Democratic Party officials are bracing for a large turnout. About 7,000 new Hawaii members have signed up since late last year, party officials say, which is a strong indication the Clinton-Sanders contest is stirring interest among local Democrats.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Stephanie Ohigashi said the party has printed 100,000 ballots and is now bracing for what might be record crowds. Party officials say they have been deluged with calls from people asking for information about how to participate.

The presidential preference poll will begin at 1 p.m., but organizers are urging participants to arrive early in case there are lines at the 63 voting locations statewide. The voting is only open to party members, and organizers have been urging participants to sign up before the event, but volunteers will be on hand to sign up new members at the door to allow them to vote.

Voters must report to the precinct where they are listed on the party rolls because that is the location where they must vote. Party officials are encouraging people to prepare for the voting by visiting hawaiidemocrats.org to make sure they know where to go.

Three of the four Democratic candidates who are on the Hawaii presidential preference poll ballot are still active, including Sanders, Clinton and Rocky De La Fuente. Also on the ballot will be Martin O’Malley, who has suspended his campaign. Voters at the preference poll will also be able to vote “uncommitted” if they choose to do so.

The polling will help decide which candidates will get the support of most of Hawaii’s delegates this summer at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Hawaii will send 34 delegates to Philadelphia, including nine “superdelegates” who are free to support their favorite candidate regardless of the outcome of the Hawaii preference polling today.