Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Aiona compels ConCon query in Nov. 4 vote

Question: If we do get to vote on having another constitutional convention, will "blank" votes count as "no" votes? Will the questions be worded so that voting "yes" mean "no" or "no" means "yes"? Who comes up with these ideas?

Answer: It's premature to say how any proposed amendment is going to be worded, because voters haven't yet decided whether they want another constitutional convention.

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona has officially asked the state Office of Elections to pose a question in the statewide Nov. 4 general election ballot asking voters whether a constitutional convention should be held again. The most recent one was held in 1978.

The state Constitution requires that voters be asked every nine years whether they would like another convention to propose amendments to the Constitution. If any nine-year period passes without the question being submitted to voters, the lieutenant governor then "shall certify the question" to be voted on during the general election.

In a news release last month, Aiona said a ConCon would allow "the people of Hawaii to voice their opinion on the need to update our Constitution."

Under the state Constitution, it's up to the members of the convention to decide on the manner in which proposed revisions or amendments are submitted to voters, "provided that each amendment shall be submitted in the form of a question embracing but one subject; and provided further, that each question shall have designated spaces to mark yes or no on the amendment."

Furthermore, the revision or amendments are effective only if approved "by a majority of all the votes tallied upon the question, this majority constituting at least 50 percent of the total vote cast at the election, or at a special election by a majority of all the votes tallied upon the question, this majority constituting at least 30 percent of the total number of registered voters."

According to a previous opinion by the state attorney general, "total vote cast at the election" includes blank and spoiled ballots.

Auwe

Terrible, terrible. At 11:29 a.m. Jan. 4, a white van made a right turn from Punchbowl onto King Street, going against traffic to enter the driveway Ewa of the state library. I am an avid walker and always careful. I look before stepping down from a curb, but who would have thought anyone would dare an illegal maneuver like that? I'm thankful I didn't get killed. This van was no more than a yard from me. -- No Name

You can send a letter to the Honolulu Police Department's Traffic Division, detailing the incident, including license number. The address is 801 S. Beretania St., Honolulu HI 96813.

HPD cannot issue a citation unless an officer witnesses the violation. However, it will send a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle, noting that someone reported seeing the driver of the vehicle committing a traffic offense.