Editorials
Tuesday, September 24, 1996
Officials should be prodded
on vote count
THE biggest surprise in last Saturday's elections was no individual result but the extraordinary amount of time it took to get the returns out. Final results were not released until 4:35 a.m. Sunday, more than 10 hours after the polls closed. For Hawaii voters, not to mention the candidates, who are used to learning the results within a few hours, it was frustrating having to go to bed Saturday night without knowing who had won. The experience should not be repeated in the general elections.
The reason for the delay was the decision of elections officers to conduct a test in the middle of the count to ensure that the system was working properly and there would be no errors. In past elections audits were performed only before and after the count.
Chief elections officer Dwayne Yoshina explained that the Elections Office received undeserved criticism after the 1994 elections. The mid-count test was an attempt to forestall more such complaints. Instead, people are complaining that the returns were so late. It's never been this bad since the system was computerized.
One reason for the late results may be that those in charge are no longer elected officials. Governor Cayetano, who as lieutenant governor was responsible for elections, noted that in the past the lieutenant governors balanced the need to test the system against the importance of delivering election reports to the public as quickly as possible. Now, he said, "you have people who are not elected. They don't feel that particular compulsion, in my opinion."
OK, governor, but you're the boss now. Can't you light a fire under these election officials and get the results out? Is it really necessary to halt the count for hours to conduct a test when no one seriously questions the integrity of the system? Let's not go through this again on Nov. 5.
Resolving disputes
FOR years people with grievances have been urged to submit to mediation or other informal processes rather than go to court. So-called alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is more flexible and often cheaper and faster than lawsuits. In fact, most civil disputes are already settled out of court, but often after much time and money have been expended.
In fiscal 1994-95, 7,573 civil cases were filed in Circuit Court. Now the judiciary is pushing alternative dispute resolution in an attempt to unclog the courts and get more conflicts settled sooner. The Hawaii Supreme Court has adopted a rule that, effective Jan. 1, 1997, all parties involved in civil cases filed in Circuit Court must have a face-to-face meeting to consider settlement or alternative means of resolving the dispute.
ADR is no magic cure, but if properly administered it could help unclog the courts and relieve the frustrations of litigants. The state Supreme Court's new rule could have a profound effect on how Hawaii residents handle their disputes.
Thailand's leader
IN the frequency of changes of governments, Thailand nearly rivals Italy. Banharn Silpa-Archa was sworn in as prime minister in July 1995 after his party won parliamentary elections in which charges of vote-buying marred the campaign. Banharn was Thailand's 21st prime minister, but the 22nd will soon be chosen.
On Saturday Banharn promised to step down in seven days, after a suitable successor is found. The prime minister was forced to announce his resignation by some of the leaders of his six-party coalition government, in return for support on a parliamentary no-confidence vote. In the debate, opposition politicians accused Banharn of condoning corruption and economic mismanagement.
Thailand's economy has been booming but government mismanagement has taken a toll. The government's short-term debt rating was recently downgraded. Thailand's need for effective political leadership grows as the popular King Bhumibol Adulyadej ages but no relief is in sight.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor