Question: I was a volunteer at a precinct during the primary election. I signed up to work in one area, but when I arrived, people were switching sections. They wanted to work in another section because of the difference in what they were paid. Can’t they publish the pay scale for the different jobs ahead of time so people know where they want to work without changing on Election Day?
Answer: You can find the pay rates on the state Office of Elections’ website. Go to hawaii.gov/elections and click on "volunteers" on the right.
Most Election Day volunteers are "precinct officials," who receive a flat pay of $85 for the long day’s work. They’re the ones you see handling the poll books, issuing the ballots, etc.
"Chairpersons," who are in charge of the polling places and are responsible for seeing that all election procedures are followed correctly, receive $115 to $175.
"Voter assistance officials," who assist in managing the polling places and who operate the Voter Assistance Stations, receive $100.
You did not leave a name and contact information, so there was no way to determine what happened at your precinct.
Rex Quidilla, spokesman for the Elections Office, said the situation you described "wouldn’t be typical of what occurs at a polling place." Positions generally are filled based on need, he said. "It could happen that some people don’t show up and you have to elevate someone" to a voter assistance official or worse, a chairman, that day.
But because those two positions don’t handle "run-of-the-mill stuff," they receive training for more complex tasks and situations than the training given precinct workers, he said.
The focus is on "the responsibility to be filled rather than the pay you make," Quidilla said. "Obviously the pay is never commensurate to the valuable assistance given to the public on Election Day."
He noted that people have said Election Day pay is not even minimum wage and "that’s entirely true," adding, "The stipend is a mahalo more than a compensation."
Election Day Work
Interested in working on the Nov. 6 general election?
To qualify, you must have turned 16 years old before June 30; be a registered voter in the state; be able to read (11-point type) and write English; be able to lift 25 to 35 pounds; attend a training session; and pass a certification exam.
Generally, candidates for elective office are not eligible, nor can any of their close relatives work in the precinct where votes may be cast for the candidate.
Be warned that the hours are long. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but precinct officials are expected to be there from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Call 453-8683.
Question: Is it possible to get a number to ask someone if the request we get for donations is legitimate?
Answer: You can call the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii at 536-6956 or find information on various businesses and charitable organizations on its website, hawaii.bbb.org.
AUWE
To the person riding a recumbent bicycle (where the rider is in a laid-back position instead of straight up) on the sidewalk on Lanikuhana Avenue near the Walmart (in) Mililani about 10:30 a.m. July 31.
Please remember that you need to yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk. Although you called out a warning on approach, you barely slowed down, whizzing past me.
While your "good morning" was polite, you need to slow down or pull over onto the grassy strip and give pedestrians the right of way. Someone could be seriously injured by your inaction.
— A Biker Myself
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
