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03.2.2024

Common Cause Hawaii’s program manager is looking for ways to bolster engagement with local government 1 What aspect of “good government” does Hawaii do well, and where does it need the most improvement? 2 How can civic engagement — citizen involvement — be improved? 3 What issues most concern you that are now before the Legislature? 4 What do you see as the danger in a state with government so dominated by one party? And, looking ahead, what are your hopes for Common Cause in the next five years? For Camron's answers, please check your online version of the Star Advertiser, of march 01, 2024

03.2.2024

The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: Camron Hurt Of Common Cause Hawaii

The new program manager for the longtime democracy watchdog has ambitious plans and goals. The Civil Beat Editorial Board spoke on Tuesday with the program director of Common Cause Hawaii. Camron Hurt said the organization under his leadership will focus on elections, voting access, government transparency and campaign finance reform. Hurt began by explaining what Common Cause does. (This is a lengthy interview. Please click below to get to the Civil Beat page and read the entire interview.)

05.17.2021

Community Voice - Remote Testimony Worked Well This Session. Now Let's Make It Even Better

The 2021 Hawaii legislative session was momentous and not just for the issues addressed (or left unaddressed). It was conducted entirely remotely for the first time, given that the Capitol was closed to the public due to COVID-19. For years, advocates have supported remote public testimony. This would seem reasonable and necessary, given our island state and with the Capitol located on Oahu. Hawaii and Maui county councils have had a hybrid system, allowing both in-person and remote testimony at satellite locations. Given the logistical scramble to hold the entire 2021 legislative session remotely, the Legislature and its administrative team are to be applauded for the overall conduct of the remote 2021 session. It was a learning experience for all — from legislators to advocates — and mostly a positive one. The authors are Sandy Ma, Common Cause Hawaii's Executive Director and Younghee Overly, Chair of AAUW's Hawaii Public Policy Committee. Click on the link below to read the entire article.

04.30.2021

April 29, 2021. Common Cause Hawaii's Executive Director, Sandy Ma, appeared on ThinkTech Hawaii, hosted by Jay Fidell.

Sandy Ma's appearance on ThinkTech had her talking about  Common Cause Hawaii legislative efforts on voting and ethics in Hawaii. The video of the show was streamed live and has been uploaded to YouTube. You can view the entire interview by clicking on the link below.

03.18.2021

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Letter to the Editor - March 18, 2021 - AVR won't expose voters' private data

There has been misleading messaging trying to scare Hawaii about automatic voter registration (AVR), but we know better. Some people, including elected officials, are saying that AVR will let voters’ private data become public. This is just plain false. Hawaii has a longstanding law in place specifically to protect people’s voter registration data — Hawaii Revised Statutes § 11-97 — and the current AVR bill moving in the Legislature, Senate Bill 159, SD1, will not change that. A county clerk may not disclose voter registration information if it compromises the privacy of voters or interferes with the operations of elections, according to Hawaii Administrative Rules § 3-177-160(c). Don’t let scare tactics prevent Hawaii from advancing voter security and easing barrier to voter registration. Hawaii is better than that! This letter was submitted by Sandy Ma, Common Cause Hawaii's Executive Director.

03.11.2021

Hawaii Public Radio The Conversation - March 10, 2021: Will Hawaii Adopt Automatic Voter Registration?

Common Cause on automatic voter registration 2020 saw changes at the Hawaii Office of Elections, which conducted its first election entirely by mail. Now, another innovation is on the docket - automatic voter registration. Sanday Ma of Common Cause Hawaii spoke to The Conversation's Savannah Harriman-Pote about what "automatic" voter registration actually means. SB 159 passed through the Senate and has made it to the House. If it passes there, Hawaii would join 20 other states that already have AVR. Click on the link to listen to the interview with Sandy Ma.

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