Voters should act before Madame Pele does

This time, no excuses. Madame Pele’s slow march toward Pahoa has given the state and county governments — and local residents — plenty of time to prepare for voting in the Nov. 4 general election. The Hawaii County clerk’s office is asking voters who might evacuate the area where to send absentee ballots. The state Office of Elections is considering alternative locations for polling places. And local, state and federal officials are figuring out how to provide evacuation routes if necessary.

Ultimately, however, it will be up to the Puna voters themselves to make sure they cast their ballots. It’s an important election — we’re choosing a new governor in what looks like a close race — and as we saw in the U.S. Senate primary contest, every vote counts.

So prepare to vote as early as allowed, while there’s still time to plan.

2 First Amendment victories in as many days

Another day, another victory for free speech.

Last Thursday, it was announced that the state was dropping its rule requiring permits for public demonstrations on state lands involving 25 or more people, settling a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and a private law firm. Then on Friday, a U.S. District Court judge barred Hawaii County from interfering with a homeless man’s attempt to use a sign to solicit donations in public, in a case again involving the ACLU and a private law firm.

Sure, many people don’t like spontaneous protests at the state Capitol, or aggressive panhandling, but the resilience of our nation is due in large part to the ability of each of us to peacefully express ourselves — without a permit and without having to endure police harassment.