One hears often in daily conversations local residents’ discontent with what’s happening in our communities, our island and our state. Their dissatisfaction revolves around the lack of affordable housing and affordable rentals, poor roads and too much tourism. These same issues are mentioned in many conversations daily, just as they were five, 10, 15 years ago, and maybe back even further.
These issues are heard at the onset of each campaign season. Though, I think we are worse off today than when we first heard these issues raised over a decade ago.
A kama‘aina I was attempting to persuading to register told me, “Why vote? We talk and grumble but nothing happens. It will take too long to change the political system.” That is sad reasoning.
There were days that Kauai led the state in voter turnout with 80 percent or more registered voters turning out to vote. Politicians paid attention to the voting public. Complaints from the citizenry were regarded as concerns about what was happening in our communities, and politicians responded as if the island mattered.
The one leverage we have against “long-time, do-nothing politicians” is to vote for a better candidate. However, it takes more than just your vote. You need to register and encourage your friends to register, too.
As we increase the number of voters who actually participate in our democracy, what was deemed impossible happens. Your candidate gets into office.
Now you hold your candidate responsible to follow through on his reasonable campaign pledges. Keep doing this and for sure the tide will change to politicians who listen to their constituents and tend to the needs of our communities and island.
The demographics of our island have changed, as have the issues. Too often we opine about them but do nothing. Seventy-five percent of the registered voters in the last election didn’t even show up to vote or send in their ballot.
You want to take back our island, our state? You want safe roads with minimal potholes? Uncrowded beaches and our special places kept special for us? REGISTER! Because that is the first step towards then voting. And now it could get easier than ever.
The Legislature has the opportunity to make voting more accessible and convenient with automatic voter registration. If enacted, when applying for or renewing their driving license or their state of Hawaii ID, eligible citizens would be automatically registered to vote, unless they opt-out.
Once registered, people can choose from a number of ways to vote. They will not even have to leave their homes to vote on election day. No more regrets on election day that they forgot to register! Yes, we have same-day registration now, but why deal with possible hassles and waiting to register when it can be done so easily if we have AVR?
Lawmakers have a great opportunity here to change the political landscape.
John F. Kennedy was an outsider and the first Catholic to reach the presidency. He reached out to other outsiders and minorities and he won!
I am reaching out to everyone here: please ask your legislator to enact AVR.
In the next election we can have a tremendous impact if we are registered. Being registered means you will get reminders like the yellow card. You will get campaign materials — and therefore you will be better informed — and will be more likely to vote. Combined with the newly passed vote by mail (VBM) bill, this will help further modernize our elections. States with AVR and VBM such as Oregon and Colorado have turnout generally in the 60-70 percent range. Ours is in the 40-50 percent range.
We can do better. We must do better if we want to improve life on all our islands.
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Ted Kawahinehelelani Blake was born and raised in Koloa. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaii and a member of Hui Malama o Koloa, E Alu Pu and Kua‘aina Ulu ‘Auamo.
