When people lament about low voter turnout, especially here in Hawai‘i, I think back to an historic night. It was Feb. 19, 2008, the night Hawai‘i Democrats voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama in the state’s presidential caucus.

I went to my precinct caucus, Manoa Elementary School, where hundreds of excited voters lined up from the cafeteria to the parking lot before the polls opened. After sundown, nearly 3,000 people — many of them first-time caucus goers — stayed and waited in the darkness to cast their votes. At Manoa, the precinct organizers made a decision to not turn any voter away.

Hawai‘i’s Democratic voters made a statement that night: out of the 37,000 votes cast, more than 75 percent voted for Hawai‘i-born Barack Obama in a landslide victory. The turnout exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations.

Thousands waited for hours because they believed their vote would make a difference — that they could help decide who would be the next president of the United States. This night showed me that Hawai‘i, which consistently has one of the lowest voter turnouts of the nation, has the potential for great voter participation.

I have heard the many reasons why people don’t vote. They don’t believe their vote matters. They believe it will be “politics as usual.” Or simply they just don’t care.

I can understand their reluctance to vote. There has been a steady decline of faith in politics and politicians, fed by the 24-hour news cycle that revels in the shortcomings of government. Take for example the news coverage this summer of health care forums and the focus on incendiary rhetoric instead of the facts. This kind of discussion leads to public cynicism and mistrust in our political process.

Money has also become a big factor in low voter turnout. When I ran my first campaign, there were campaign spending limits in place. Since then, there have been several campaign reform laws that have not worked. Opponents are more focused on raising the most money and outspending each other. As a result, the average person feels frozen out of the public process. Money is the cancer in the bowels of democracy.

There have been countless studies done on getting out the vote. I believe bolstering voter turnout needs to be approached on several fronts.

First and foremost, we each have to fulfill our personal responsibility to vote. Next year, there are several high stakes races, including mayors of Kaua‘i and Maui, three Congressional seats, all of the state House, 13 state Senate seats, lieutenant governor and governor — the position I am seeking.

Government must assure fair, transparent and completely accessible elections. The current red flags being raised at the state Office of Elections must be addressed immediately so that citizens have confidence in the process. The public trust must be handled with care.

As political candidates, we also have a responsibility to present the issues, distinguish ourselves as candidates and provide clear choices for the voters. For 20 years, I have made my positions known to the people of Hawai‘i as their representative in Congress. Over the next year, I will do the same as a gubernatorial candidate.

In 2008, Democratic voters came out because they thought their vote mattered. In 2010, it will matter even more. I have faith that we can recapture the same kind of magic and enthusiasm Hawai‘i saw 19 months ago in the presidential caucuses. We need to restore the public’s trust in politics and politicians.

Congressman Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, represents the 1st District of Hawai‘i.