White urges more early walk-in voting locations. Graphics/photo collage by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Maui County Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution seeking an increase in the number of early walk-in voting locations, Council Member Mike White announced.

White, who introduced the resolution, said it supports voter access and equal voting opportunities across the county, which only had two early walk-in sites during the last election cycle.

“Voting must be encouraged, whether on election day, via absentee mail-in or early walk-in,” White said in a press release announcing the measure’s advance.  “As the resolution states, ‘The right to vote is critical in upholding a vibrant democracy,’ and the opportunity to participate should be made available and accessible to our citizens,” he said.

The state recorded a 61.9% voter turnout in the 2012 General Election — including a 33.5% precinct and 28.4% absentee turnout.  In the 2012 General Election, Maui’s voter turnout was even lower with a total turnout of 56.8% — including a 35.9% precinct and 21% absentee turnout.

During the 2012 Primary Election, Maui had a 30.6% voter turnout–including a 16.8% precinct, and 13.7% absentee turnout.

White said that while mail-in voting is an option, he said, “Many residents still prefer voting at a physical location.”

Currently, there are no early walk-in voting sites on the island of Lānaʻi.  The only walk-in locations in the county in the past election cycle were at the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku, and the Mitchell Pauole Center on the Island of Molokaʻi.

According to the state Office of Elections, the dates for Absentee Walk-in voting are as follows:

• July 28, 2014 to Aug. 7, 2014, for the 2014 primary election; and
• Oct. 21, 2014 to Nov. 1, 2014, for the 2014 general election.

Deadlines for absentee voting by mail are as follows:

• Aug. 2, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. for the 2014 primary election; and
• Oct. 28, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. for the 2014 general election

In order to vote, you must be a US citizen, a legal resident of Hawaiʻi, and at least 18 years old.  The deadline to register for the primary election is on July 10; and the deadline for general election registration is Oct. 6, 2014.

The primary election this year will take place on Aug. 9, and the general election is set to take place on Nov. 4.