Understanding Why Understanding Why The Electoral Process The Electoral Process

Matters…Matters…To You, to All of UsTo You, to All of Us

Piilani Kaopuiki, JoAnn MaruokaPiilani Kaopuiki, JoAnn Maruoka Teresa Lau, Joy MarshallTeresa Lau, Joy Marshall

The League of Women Voters of HonoluluThe League of Women Voters of Honolulu

13 April 201013 April 2010

The League of Women Voters (LWV)The League of Women Voters (LWV) strictlystrictly Non-PartisanNon-Partisan

wholeheartedlywholeheartedly PoliticalPolitical

• National + 900 state & local LeaguesNational + 900 state & local Leagues

• Original grassroots citizen network, Original grassroots citizen network, consensus of women & men membersconsensus of women & men members

• LWV-HILWV-HI is statewide, comprised of county is statewide, comprised of county Leagues: Leagues: HonoluluHonolulu & & Hawaii IslandHawaii Island

LWV-HawaiiLWV-Hawaii

• The League of Women Voters is where The League of Women Voters is where hands-on work to safeguard democracy hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to community improvementleads to community improvement

• A great resource with links to other A great resource with links to other relevant sites is the League websiterelevant sites is the League website

www.lwv-hawaii.comwww.lwv-hawaii.com

• Elected officials make decisions about Elected officials make decisions about things that are important to things that are important to YOUYOU, , including including YOURYOUR job, job, YOURYOUR health care, health care, YOURYOUR environment & environment & YOURYOUR security security

• Voting is Voting is YOURYOUR chance to choose the chance to choose the decision makers & tell them what decision makers & tell them what YOUYOU want want

So What? Why Should I Care?So What? Why Should I Care?

15th AMENDMENT15th AMENDMENT, Section 1., Section 1. The right of The right of US citizens to vote shall US citizens to vote shall notnot be denied or be denied or abridged by the US or by any State onabridged by the US or by any State on account of race, color, or previous account of race, color, or previous condition of servitudecondition of servitude. . (Ratified in 1870)(Ratified in 1870)

19th AMENDMENT19th AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of , Section 1. The right of US citizens to vote shall US citizens to vote shall notnot be denied or be denied or abridged by the US or by any State onabridged by the US or by any State on account of sexaccount of sex. . (Ratified in 1920)(Ratified in 1920)

THE PLAYERSTHE PLAYERS

Constitutional Election RightsConstitutional Election Rights

24th AMENDMENT24th AMENDMENT, , Section 1. The right of US Section 1. The right of US citizens to vote in any primary or other election for citizens to vote in any primary or other election for President or VP, for electors for President or VP, President or VP, for electors for President or VP, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall shall notnot be denied or abridged by the US or any Statebe denied or abridged by the US or any State byby reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other taxtax.. (Ratified in 1964)(Ratified in 1964)

26th AMENDMENT26th AMENDMENT, , Section 1.Section 1. The right ofThe right of US US citizenscitizens, who are, who are 18 years of age or older18 years of age or older, , to to votevote shall shall notnot be denied or abridged by the US or be denied or abridged by the US or by any Stateby any State on account of ageon account of age. . (Ratified in 1971) (Ratified in 1971)

THE PLAYERS THE PLAYERS (cont’d)(cont’d)

Constitutional Election Constitutional Election RightsRights

An election revolves around An election revolves around beliefs & actions of American voters beliefs & actions of American voters

Come Election Day, Come Election Day, no one else’sno one else’s opinions opinions matter, & matter, & no one elseno one else has control over the has control over the

outcome but the outcome but the votersvoters

VOTING = THE GREAT VOTING = THE GREAT EQUALIZEREQUALIZER

IN AMERICAN SOCIETY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY

WE THE WE THE PEOPLEPEOPLE

YOU HAVE 1 VOTE = EVERYONE ELSEYOU HAVE 1 VOTE = EVERYONE ELSE

With that 1 vote, With that 1 vote, youyou have the power to have the power to influence decisions that will affect influence decisions that will affect youryour life life YourYour job, job, youryour taxes, taxes, youryour health care, health care, youryour Social Security, whether the nation goes to Social Security, whether the nation goes to war, you name it — war, you name it — they are all at stakethey are all at stake

WE THE WE THE PEOPLEPEOPLE

In May 2010 In May 2010 SpecialSpecial Election, Election, Oahu Oahu

Votes to replace Votes to replace US Rep AbercrombieUS Rep Abercrombie

in 1st Congressional Districtin 1st Congressional District(Honolulu, Aiea, Pearl City, Mililani, (Honolulu, Aiea, Pearl City, Mililani,

Ewa, Ewa Beach, parts of Waipahu) Ewa, Ewa Beach, parts of Waipahu)

• Vote-by-mail Vote-by-mail (election ends Sat, May 22)(election ends Sat, May 22)• Absentee walk-in voting at HonoluluAbsentee walk-in voting at Honolulu Hale May 10 - 20, 8 am – 4 pmHale May 10 - 20, 8 am – 4 pm• Registration deadline April 22Registration deadline April 22

In Nov 2010, Hawaii Votes In Nov 2010, Hawaii Votes on:on:

• One of 2 US SenatorsOne of 2 US Senators

• Both US RepresentativesBoth US Representatives

• Governor, Lt GovernorGovernor, Lt Governor

• Approx half of 25 State SenatorsApprox half of 25 State Senators

• All 51 State RepresentativesAll 51 State Representatives

• PRIMARYPRIMARY Election Election Sat, Sep 18Sat, Sep 18

• Last Day to RegisterLast Day to Register Thu, Aug 19 Thu, Aug 19

• Early Voting:Early Voting: - Last Day to Request- Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballotan Absentee Ballot Sat, Sep 11 Sat, Sep 11

- Absentee Walk-in Voting- Absentee Walk-in Voting Sep 3 – 16 Sep 3 – 16 Walk-in polling places still to be determinedWalk-in polling places still to be determined

Important 2010 DatesImportant 2010 Dates

• GENERALGENERAL Election Election Tue, Nov 2Tue, Nov 2

• Last Day to RegisterLast Day to Register Mon, Oct 4Mon, Oct 4

• Early Voting:Early Voting: - Last Day to Request- Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballotan Absentee Ballot Tue, Oct 26Tue, Oct 26

- Absentee Walk-in Voting - Absentee Walk-in Voting Oct 19 – 30 Oct 19 – 30 Walk-in polling places still to be determinedWalk-in polling places still to be determined

Important 2010 DatesImportant 2010 Dates

• REGISTERREGISTER to vote & help others register to vote & help others register

• TALKTALK to people about candidates & issues to people about candidates & issues & why you feel it’s important to vote& why you feel it’s important to vote

• FIND OUTFIND OUT if your family, friends, neighbors have if your family, friends, neighbors have what they need to make informed decisions & get what they need to make informed decisions & get to the polls… maybe all they need is a rideto the polls… maybe all they need is a ride

• DON’T GO ALONEDON’T GO ALONE to the polling place … to the polling place … take a friend or neighbor with youtake a friend or neighbor with you

How YOU Can Help How YOU Can Help

Make Make YOURYOUR voice heard voice heard on Election Day!on Election Day!

Get Registered!Get Registered!

Get Informed!Get Informed!

Get Out & Vote!Get Out & Vote!

YOUYOU Are Our Are Our Future!Future!

We Wish You We Wish You the Best of Luckthe Best of Luck

Questions?Questions?