Letter to Lawmakers on Voting in a Pandemic
The State Office of Elections and County Clerks by Proclamation dated May 15, 2020 stated
that Hawaii’s first all vote-by-mail elections – during a public health crisis no less – will
only have eight Voter Service Centers statewide to conduct in-person voting, same day
register voters, collect voted ballots, and more, such as respond to the confusion,
mistakes, mishaps, and countless questions that vote-by-mail's launch will inevitably
bring. These eight Voter Service Centers will only be open 10 days prior to elections
from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Saturday and on election days from 7 am to 7
pm. Clearly, eight Voter Service Centers statewide will not be sufficient.