Candidates for neighborhood boards sought

Oahu residents seeking to become more involved in the community are being sought as candidates for the city’s 33 neighborhood boards in 2015.

Neighborhood board elections are held every two years in odd-numbered years. The 2015 all-online election takes place from April 23 to May 15.

Candidates can register with the Neighborhood Commission Office online by Feb. 20, or by submitting a physical Candidate Declaration Form in person or postmarked no later than Feb. 20. The form can be downloaded from the commission’s website at www1.honolulu.gov/nco/index.htm. Oahu residents can also learn which neighborhood board they are attached to at the site.

Candidates for the two-year seats must be Oahu residents at least 18 years old by Feb. 20, and may be military personnel, military family members and legal resident immigrants. Some boards consist of a set number of members from various subdistricts while others are elected "at-large" without regard to subdistricts. Some consist of both subdistrict and at-large seats.

The same requirements are used to determine who can vote in neighborhood board elections. Anyone who voted in the 2014 state elections is automatically eligible to vote in the 2014 neighborhood board election. Those who did not vote in the 2014 state elections may become eligible to vote by submitting a voter registration form, available at the commission’s website, to the Neighborhood Commission Office.

Elections are conducted online with the commission office mailing passcodes to eligible voters, who then may cast ballots for contested seats. The city also makes computers available to the public for voting during the voting period. Voters who can’t access the Internet or the public computers may cast ballots by telephone using information included in the mailing.

Results will be announced no later than seven days after the election period ends.

Newly elected board members assume office on July 1. The boards typically meet once a month.

Oahu residents with questions about the neighborhood board election process, or what the boards do, may go to the website or call the commission office at 768-3717.