2016 election ought to be a cure for low voter turnout

Hawaii Democrats are anticipating a heavy turnout at the party’s “presidential preference poll,” which is the official name here for the voting slated to start at 1 p.m. today.

That’s because of something few anticipated when the campaign season started: Rather than a coronation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the nomination process would involve a serious challenge from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Sanders currently lags in the delegate count, but he continues to generate a following — especially among younger voters.

But more than who will prevail between Clinton and Sanders, the bigger question is whether the Democrats can capitalize on the influx of new voters generated by this election. Will their interest in political engagement last? That didn’t really happen the last time the opportunity arose.

In 2008, Hawaii-born Barack Obama whipped up enormous enthusiasm from island Democrats — again, many of them young. The influx of new voters evidently was a short-term phenomenon, though: Voter turnout was not sustained through subsequent election cycles.

The economy and world events have shifted the reasons that drive people to the polls.

Fears of terrorism have intensified with the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels.

The economy has recovered, but many people still aren’t feeling it, or seeing it in their pay packets. Stagnant wages have frustrated millions across the country, and messages about income disparity have resonated.

These are national trends. But the candidates additionally have tried to appeal to Hawaii voters and Hawaii issues, including support for Native Hawaiian sovereignty and the U.S. military’s pivot to Asia and the Pacific.

The state’s 34 delegates to the Democratic convention will be alloted to the candidates proportionately. Previous presidential hopefuls more or less dismissed the Hawaii delegate factor, but this year each one seems to matter more.

Although the candidates themselves did not make the trans-Pacific flight, both camps are paying more attention to Hawaii, buying television ads and manning phone banks to get out the vote.

Another reason to believe the turnout will be big: The voting here is by secret ballot, like a regular election, unlike the time-consuming process of a true caucus. For Democrats out on a busy holiday weekend, this should be appealing.

And participants don’t have to be dyed-in-the-wool party regulars. Those who wish to vote must sign a party membership card, but they can do so on the same day.

After Saturday’s preference poll, the voters themselves should look for ways to keep informed and stay connected, through the elections and beyond. This goes double for the younger newcomers to the process. The millennial generation is soon going to be the dominant voting bloc, and they need to leave the sidelines and get in the game for good.

Sanders has publicly complained that the U.S. has among the lowest voter turnout records among developed nations. Whether or not people support his political agenda, he is right — poor participation by the electorate is a shameful fact.

It’s also correctable, starting with this election.