Naʻi Aupuni Extends Voting Deadline by Three Weeks

Maui delegate candidates. Photo credit: Naʻi Aupuni.

Naʻi Aupuni, an organization formed to establish a path to Native Hawaiian self-determination, announced today it is extending the deadline to vote in its elections to midnight on Dec, 21, 2015.

This comes following a US Supreme Court decision that temporarily puts a stop to the vote count.

Bill Meheula, legal counsel for Naʻi Aupuni said the extension is being implemented because voters who may not have cast their ballots over concerns and questions on the recent decision.

Naʻi Aupuni representatives say the SCOTUS decision temporarily stayed the vote count and certification of the elected delegates, but did not stop voting.

“While we can immediately notify those who provided their email addresses to Election-America that the voting period is extended, it will take longer to effectively provide notice to mail-only voters, so we are extending the deadline by three weeks to provide time for voters to receive our notice and to vote,” said Meheula. “As we await a decision by SCOTUS, we strongly encourage those who have not yet voted to cast their ballots,” he said.

Na‘i Aupuni representatives say they are confident in their position. “We feel strongly that the Supreme Court will agree with Judge Seabright that the plaintiffs are not entitled to enjoin our election. We urge voters to use this extension to participate in this opportunity to unify Hawaiians,” Meheula said in an organization press release statement.

Those opposed to the election argue that many are disassociated from the process.  Opponents say it is important that the public understand the impacts, implications, risks and take a critical analysis of the process.

Meheula went on to say that that the ‘Aha, “is an opportunity to talk about all forms of government, including independence and any recommendation will be taken back to the voters.”

Na‘i Aupuni is an independent organization made up of a volunteer board of directors from the Hawaiian community. It exists to help establish a path for Hawaiian self-determination and is guiding an election, convention, and ratification process.

Na‘i Aupuni was formed in December 2014 and is separate and independent from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the State of Hawaiʻi.