As you might have heard, last month’s turnout for Hawai`i’s primary election was the lowest turnout in the history of our state. The 32% turnout rate includes only registered voters, so if you take into account that we have eligible voters who don’t even bother to sign up, the tally is even more tepid.
Nowadays, you simply have to open your mail, fill out the ballot and mail it in. Easy-peasy. Or not. “Ainokea” paired with the lack of a robust slate in many races surely contributed to the record low turnout. One would expect that the presidential race itself will cause higher numbers of voters to take the time to vote in November… maybe.
Perhaps if we offered a grand prize or two in the form of a lottery (currently illegal), that would encourage more people to vote, which might encourage more (qualified, astute) people to run. Now I know we should never try to “buy” people’s votes, but isn’t that a big chunk of what our political system is really all about (PACs, political ads, cronyism, political favors, online fake news to sway our opinions, etc.)?
Yes, I’m kidding, of course. But since we have an insatiable urge to gamble here (or in Lost Wages), maybe the concept of winning some bucks for doing your civic duty would incentivize thousands of residents who’ve currently/historically checked out of the system. Hawai`i loves some machines (slots) but apparently not others (political).
A robust, democratic political system where people make choices based on what’s best for the state, their plights, and their families requires vigorous competition between parties, rather than within parties. We simply don’t have that locally in about 90% of bi-annual ballot options.
In 1994, the primary turnout was more than double what was last month. Ironically, decisions about our future as a state have arguably never been more important, while a grand majority of potential voters choose to sit on the sidelines. Could this be more an indictment on where we’ve devolved as a political arena than it does on people’s utter frustration and disinterest?
Just as far too many are not using the power of the pen to make choices, far too many are making choices- by leaving. Eight years in a row we’ve lost population. Change may take time, but 2026 would be an ideal moment to begin stimulating interest through more ballot options.
Think about it…