One Day Special Election To Be Held - Puna

[opihikao]

FYI: (*Update)

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
State elections officials tell Hawaii News Now that they will hold a one day special election for the two storm damaged precincts in Puna on the Big Island. The polling places will be held at two, yet to be determined. locations in Puna this Friday or Saturday between 7a.m. and 6 p.m.

The Office of Elections is still determining the date.

Election officials decided today to hold 'in-person' voting instead of an all-mail ballot election process.

The two precincts in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision have more than 8,200 registered voters, mathematically more than enough to tip the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate between Brian Schatz and Coleen Hanabusa. But the state Office of Elections said only 12 percent of them cast advance ballots for Saturday's primary. Those who wanted to go to the polls were not allowed to vote due to the extensive storm damage in their area.

We will have the latest tonight on Hawaii News Now.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26253...vaged-puna

[missydog1]

That seems smart, to get it done already.

In the original announcement of the polling closure, it said that Hawaiian Beaches/Shores was affected in one precinct, but here it only mentions HPP. Which is it?

[Rob Tucker]

Last election they manufactured a crisis, this time they have a real one.

[GinaMangieri]

FRIDAY is the right day. Here is the information cut-and-paste from Office of Elections Press Release

"Election Will be Held Friday for Two Big Island Polling Places"


"HONOLULU, August 11, 2014: Chief Election Officer Scott Nago, in consultation with the State Attorney General, Department of Defense and the Office of the County Clerk, announced today that an election will be held on Friday, August 15th at Keonepoko Elementary School for the two polling places whose election was postponed due to Hurricane Iselle.

Only voters who are assigned to Hawaiian Paradise Community Center (04-01) and Keoneopoko Elementary School (04-02), who did not previously vote by absentee mail ballot or at an early vote site will be allowed to vote.

Polling place hours will be from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Voters in line at 6:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Final results of the 2014 Primary Election will be released the same evening at www.hawaii.gov/elections."


Gina Mangieri, KHON2 News, gina@khon2.com

[macuu222]

Where is the elementary school located?

[GinaMangieri]

Keonepoko Elementary, 15-890 Kahakai Blvd, P#257;hoa

Gina Mangieri, KHON2 News, gina@khon2.com

[macuu222]

That's 12 to 15 miles away from voters in Hawaiian Paradise Park!!!! Will there be shuttles to take us there and back?

[Chunkster]

Ditto to macuu222's concern. This is not only short notice for a walk-in vote, but the single location is a big detriment to HPP voters' ability to get to the polls. Never mind that it entirely contradicts everything they have been telling us for the past several days. What a frigging mess!

[opihikao]

Extensive Article: (*Snipped - More at link) Hope they provide shuttles at the very least. Puna voters deserve better, more timely information, and really have been a "second thought" once again. Good God. JMO.


http://www.civilbeat.com/2014/08/hawaii-...970b8b3ce1



Friday is a state holiday — Statehood Day. The polling hours will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa released a statement not long after the news of the rescheduled election was announced:

It is disappointing that the State Office of Elections reversed course and decided to hold walk in voting on Friday. A lot of voters in those two precincts are without power and water and many of the roads are blocked with debris, isolating large pockets of the community. It is unrealistic to think people struggling to find basic necessities and get out of their homes will have the ability to go to the polls Friday. There is very limited electricity and phone service in some of these areas and it is unclear how the state will notify people that there will be a vote. Our campaign is currently reviewing all legal options at this time.

There was no immediate comment from the campaign of U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

Chief Election Officer Scott Nago made the decision after consultation with the Hawaii Attorney General, Department of Defense and the Office of the County Clerk.

“Only voters who are assigned to Hawaiian Paradise Community Center (04-01) and Keoneopoko Elementary School (04-02), who did not previously vote by absentee mail ballot or at an early vote site will be allowed to vote,” according to the Elections Office.

There are 8,255 registered voters in the two precincts. Quidilla said he did not know how many had previously mailed in absentee ballots.

The Elections Office initially considered mailing out ballots to the voters affected by the precinct closures. More than 23 percent of Big Island voters voted absentee.

There is some question as to how much voters in Puna are even paying attention to the news. With electricity out in some on the Big Island place and phone and Internet access perhaps spotty, some may not have heard that their district will determine who Hawaii’s U.S. senator will be.

That said, the election may take on more importance, knowing that the fate of a U.S. Senate seat depends on these voters. Certainly, Puna is very important to Hanabusa and Schatz, who are currently on the Big Island — ostensibly for humanitarian purposes, as both candidates expressed concern for the area at a Democratic Party breakfast Sunday in Honolulu.

On Monday, Hanabusa toured Puna by helicopter while Schatz was in Puna helping with relief supplies and delivering ice and food.

But both candidates have also said that they are not giving up the election fight.

[Midnight Rambler]

macuu - if you're in Paradise Park your voting place should be the HPP Community Center. The school is for Hawaiian Beaches.