08-23-2014, 06:49 PM
The election for the entire state should have been postponed or at least all of Hawaii County should have been postponed, and at a minimum none of the local races should have been announced before everyone had a chance to vote.
That being said, the best solution is to go to 100% vote by mail with the ballots being sent out at least 2 weeks prior to the election. One of the advantages of having people mail their ballots back over a period of time is it prevents people like Sativa from mounting effective last-minute smear campaigns.
When Oregon went 100% mail in voting I was skeptical at first but it actually increased voter participation, and the year it was piloted there were something like 47 voter initiatives (direct legislation, not just advisory like Hawaii) so people had more time to think and research their choices.
And yes,some person(s) in the State Elections offices should consider resigning because they have made some shameful decisions.
That being said, the best solution is to go to 100% vote by mail with the ballots being sent out at least 2 weeks prior to the election. One of the advantages of having people mail their ballots back over a period of time is it prevents people like Sativa from mounting effective last-minute smear campaigns.
When Oregon went 100% mail in voting I was skeptical at first but it actually increased voter participation, and the year it was piloted there were something like 47 voter initiatives (direct legislation, not just advisory like Hawaii) so people had more time to think and research their choices.
And yes,some person(s) in the State Elections offices should consider resigning because they have made some shameful decisions.