Ask the Mayor: Stolen Street Signs; Ballot Confusion

Image courtesy State of Hawaiʻi, Disability and Communication
Access Board.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q:  I am wheelchair-bound and utilize the Maui Bus ADA paratransit system. Unfortunately, someone stole our street sign, which makes it difficult for first-time bus drivers to find my house. My question is, how do I report a missing street sign and request a replacement? Mahalo nui for your assistance.

A: You can report the missing street sign, as well as any traffic sign or pavement marking problems, by contacting the Dept. of Public Works’ Traffic Signs and Markings Office at (808) 270-7455. The office is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Q: After voting in the recent primary election, I felt confused and heard that many other people were confused about the ballot too. Is it possible for the County Clerk’s office to publish a copy of the ballot in advance of the election as a “sample ballot” so that voters will know what the ballot is going to look like before we step into the voting booth? It helps voters to know what to expect.

Photo by Wendy Osher.

A:  You’re right, it’s wise to be prepared before casting your vote. Since many races are different for each precinct, it would not be feasible to publish each ballot separately. However, according to our County Clerk’s office, the ballots for every precinct are available online at www.hawaii.gov/elections; click on “Polling Place Locator and Sample Ballots.” You can scroll down to the lower left to “Select a specific precinct to see its Polling Place information,” then on the right click on “View Ballot.” If you’re not sure where you should go to vote, the site can help find your polling place when you type in your first and last name and date of birth. If you are a registered voter, your specific polling place will appear along with the address and photo of the location. Maui residents can choose to view ballots and the Polling Place Locator in English or Ilocano.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.