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Question: My son is away at basic training. He’s a registered voter. I have his absentee ballot and am going to mail it to him. His military person told him that he could just write in his candidates of choice and the military there would make sure to get it to the elections office in the appropriate state. I thought the voting had to be done on a legal ballot in order for it to count. So that’s my question.
Answer: There are special provisions for uniformed military members who are absent from their voting residence due to service, even if they are still in the United States. They are allowed to use a federal write-in absentee ballot (FWAB) in the general election for federal offices, under provisions of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act.
The ballot has blank spaces specified to write in president/vice president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative, and is legal for those who are eligible to use it.
Hawaii is among the states that also allow FWAB-eligible voters to write in their preferences on state, county and local races, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program. However, those races are not listed on the ballot — there are simply two pages of blank spaces to fill.
Therefore, your son might prefer to instead use his Hawaii absentee ballot, which specifies each race and proposed charter amendment in his district. It’s legal for you to send him his absentee ballot, which he can fill out and mail to the county clerk’s office, the state Office of Elections confirmed. The clerk must receive the ballot by the time Hawaii’s polls close on Election Day.
Q: Every morning around 5 a.m. someone turns their dog out in Kalama Valley, and it barks nonstop for one hour. I have no idea where the dog’s home is, but I’m old and still working. I’m losing an hour of sleep every day (I get up at 6 a.m.), and it’s taking its toll. What to do?
A: There doesn’t seem to be much you can do without knowing where the dog lives. If you can figure that out, you can alert the dog’s owners that your sleep is being disrupted, or file a nuisance complaint with the Hawaiian Humane Society. It’s against the law for a dog owner to let an animal bark continuously for 10 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes or more, at any time of the day or night.
Q: What happens to all those prescription drugs law enforcement collects?
A: They are destroyed, most commonly by incineration, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. They may be securely stored for a time before being rendered “non-retrievable,” according to the DEA, but the “pharmaceutical controlled substances” may not be resold, donated, repackaged or re-dispensed.
Q: When and where is the walk-in voting on Oahu? Can you print the dates and times?
A: Early voting for the general election began Tuesday and runs through Nov. 5. There are two early walk-in voting locations on Oahu: Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale, both of which are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Auwe
Auwe to the driver of a dark gray, late-model Mercedes. On Sunday at about 6:50 a.m., you ran the red light on Waialae Avenue at the intersection of 16th Avenue in Kaimuki. The light was green for me, but luckily, I hesitated when the light turned green for me. You could have killed us both. Please pay attention when you drive. — Kaimuki driver
Mahalo
It’s never too belated to remember and give thanks for a kind act. Back in August, I was lost in Mililani, and a gentleman and his wife not only gave directions, but guided me in their car to find my destination. I’ve not forgotten this intrusion of their Sunday afternoon and still feel most grateful. — Thank you from Kailua
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.
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