LIHU‘E — Voters and election volunteers said Tuesday’s general election went smoothly, with large turnouts and short lines, if any at all. The final results, however, were not available until almost 10 p.m. According to The Associated Press, 19 polling
LIHU‘E — Voters and election volunteers said Tuesday’s general election went smoothly, with large turnouts and short lines, if any at all.
The final results, however, were not available until almost 10 p.m. According to The Associated Press, 19 polling stations across O‘ahu ran out of paper ballots.
Here on Kaua‘i the vote was rather routine, with polls reportedly closing just after 6 p.m.
“We’ve been pretty steady the whole day,” said Mike Kano, election chairman of the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School precinct. “Only minor problems.”
Those problems included several address changes and a few individuals trying to vote who had not registered.
At approximately 5:30 p.m., election volunteer Sinclair Coghill reported that the Cheifess precinct had more than doubled the 400 votes counted during the primary election.
“We just passed 1,000 votes,” he said.
Claudia Murray said the voting process was smooth and quick. “I had in mind who I wanted,” she said.
“Everything went well,” added Lane Yokotake following his vote. “No stress at all.”
Stanley Cherry, originally from San Diego, was voting in his first presidential election since relocating to Hawai‘i two years ago.
“It was no stress,” he said. “I knew who I wanted.”
Cherry said he opted for voting by written ballot instead of electronically after hearing about problems with voting machines in Pennsylvania, where one man reportedly filmed a machine switching his vote for President Barack Obama to Mitt Romney.
“I don’t like the doubt,” he said of the electronic voting system. “And this morning just kind of confirmed that.”
A concern voiced Tuesday evening came from Robert and Michelle, who chose not to give their last names. Both said they were upset by the fact that the presidency was announced before the votes in Hawai‘i had even been counted.
“We want to be heard,” Robert said, adding that he thinks the solution would be for Hawai‘i voters to submit absentee ballots for the presidency so they are ready to go on Election Day.
“We are very disappointed,” he said.