Who actually shows up to vote? Who are the super voters, those people who never ever fail to show up and vote?
The research is clear, super voters are old people. Old people vote. Old people with money vote more than old people without money.
In general, people over 65 are the voters a candidate can depend on.
Research by the Pew Foundation based on the 2020 presidential election found, that 48 percent of voters between the age of 18 and 24 years old actually showed up to vote versus 72 percent of those over age 65.
Which Kaua‘i House district has the highest voter turnout and which has the lowest?
According to the Office of Elections, in the 2022 Primary:
District 15 : Ha‘ena, Wainiha, Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kealia, Kapa‘a, portion of Wailua, Kawaihau
Registered voters — 16,559, 5,876 or 35.5 percent voter turnout, 94.8 percent mail, 5.2 percent In-person
District 16: Wailua, Hanamaulu, Kapaia, Lihu‘e, Puhi, portion of Oma‘o
Registered voters — 15,632, 6,514 or 41.7 percent voter turnout, 95.5 percent mail, 4.5 percent In-person
District 17: Ni‘ihau, portion of Oma‘o, Koloa, Po‘ipu, Lawa‘i, Kalaheo, Ele‘ele, Hanapepe, Kaawanui Village, Pakala Village, Waimea, Kekaha
Registered voters — 15,861, 6,147 or 38.8 percent voter turnout, 96.9 percent Mail, 3.1 percent in-person
District 15 (North Shore to Olohena Road) is the largest district in terms of registered voters and has the worst voter turn-out. In addition, District 15 at 5.2 percent has the highest percentage of in-person voting.
District 16 (Wailua to Puhi) has the best voter turnout of all but also has about 1,000 less registered voters than District 15.
District 17 (Koloa to Kekaha) at 3.1 percent has the smallest percentage of in-person voting.
So what does this information tell us? We’re just a few days from Aug. 10 and 60 percent of registered voters have yet to cast their vote.
Where do candidates go looking for votes that “are still on the table” at this late stage of the campaign?
The data’s pretty clear. Kaua‘i residents with the worst voting record and are most likely not to have yet voted — are young people across the island, and the residents of District 15.
District 15 also happens to have a greater number of registered voters than any other District, and historically also has the largest in-person turnout.
Winning elections is a game of addition. Serious candidates must spend the time between now until the polls close at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10 speaking with people who have not yet voted.
The rest of us must reach out to friends and neighbors, and our young friends especially, and remind, cajole and encourage them to vote.
It’s too late to mail in your ballot, however there are convenient and secure drop-box locations around the island.
Those who prefer to vote in person, or have not received a ballot in the mail, or are new voters, must go to the Voter Service Center located next door to the Historic County Building. All locations can be found here: https://kauaivotes.com/ballot-drop-box-locations/.
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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council. He presently writes on Hawai‘i Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.
