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Question: It seems that the state elections office wants to get away from people voting on election day and is encouraging people to mail in their votes. Being here is not a factor even though they call it “absentee” voting. Is there a shift toward mail-in voting?
Answer: Hawaii has had what’s called “no excuses absentee voting” for about 20 years.
That means any registered voter can vote before election day by mail or at walk-in polling places without having to give a reason. About 45 percent of Hawaii voters choose to do that, according to elections officials.
But there is no move to make Hawaii strictly a vote-by-mail state, said Rex Quidilla, spokesman for the state Office of Elections.
Because of redistricting, registered voters in 17 so-called “pocket” precincts recently were told they had to vote by mail or at an early voting site. But that’s because their precincts are too small to justify opening an election day polling place (see story, B3).
In 2010, voting also was strictly mail-in for a special election to temporarily fill the congressional seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who resigned to run for governor.
A mail-only voting system would be a policy decision requiring legislative action. Bills frequently are introduced “that kind of want to delve into that,” but have not gone anywhere, said Glen Takahashi, Honolulu’s elections administrator.
Only Oregon and Washington state conduct elections entirely by mail-in ballots, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The organization says Hawaii is among 32 states and the District of Columbia where any qualified voter can vote in person during a designated early voting period without a reason.
All states have some kind of absentee voting system. An excuse is required in 21 states, while none is required in 27 states and the District of Columbia, the group says.
Some states, including Hawaii, offer the option of being on a permanent absentee ballot list.
Asked what checks there are to prevent fraud involving mail-in absentee voting, Takahashi said that first, “it’s application-based,” so ballots are sent only to qualified applicants.
Second, ballots are nonforwardable, “so if you move, they’re not supposed to be sent off if you haven’t processed an address change with us.”
Third, signatures are required on return envelopes and are checked against voter signatures kept on a database.
At the polls, voters are asked to provide identification. “In the mail-in system, authentication is through the signature,” Takahashi said.
Absentee voting by mail or at early voting sites has proved popular.
“We encourage people to vote by mail because it accommodates our active lifestyle,” Takahashi said, and “(we support) whatever suits the voter. Some people just love the polling place, it makes them feel patriotic and that’s fine, too.”
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To the honest Costco Waipio member who turned in my wallet on Monday, June 25. I want to express my sincere gratitude. Your act of kindness saved me from a ton of aggravation and stress. Many blessings to you. — Gayle Z.
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