StarBulletin.com

Turnout low for Internet vote


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POSTED: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Now that the city has completed the nation's first paperless, all-electronic election for this year's neighborhood board races, its return two years from now could be in question, after a staggeringly low 6 percent voter turnout.

;[Preview]    Honolulu Completes First Digital Board Election
  ;[Preview]
 

Residents were able to vote through the Internet and phone, but KITV’s Keoki Kerr reports some surprising results.

Watch ]

 

“;All of this we'll take back to our commission to review,”; said Joan Manke, executive director of the Neighborhood Commission Office. “;We need to look at whether it's the best way to move forward.”;

What was billed as a way to increase voter turnout and save money never panned out—only 7,289 of a potential 115,000 eligible voters cast ballots online or by telephone.

As has been the case in past years, only residents living in a neighborhood board subdistrict with a contested race were eligible to vote. Uncontested candidates automatically were declared winners and did not appear on a ballot.

To be eligible, residents had to have voted in the last election and be living in an area where there was a contested race. About two-thirds of eligible voters were living in areas with uncontested races, officials said.

This year's turnout was far below the elections of two years ago, when 28 percent of those eligible cast ballots. That year, about 10 percent of the 44,000 votes cast were done using an online process that was used in conjunction with the traditional paper ballot system.

Switching to the online and telephone system was seen largely as a cost-saving measure. The office was allotted $180,000 to carry out this year's election, a cut of about $70,000 from 2007.

“;My sense is that because it's something new, change often takes time,”; Manke said. “;It takes time to educate the public and to ensure them that it is safe, it's a secure system and it's very accessible.”;

The low turnout was not surprising to political scientist Neal Milner.

“;It may reflect, more than anything else, a lack of voter interest for voting in neighborhood board elections,”; said Milner, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “;Online voting isn't going to save that.”;

 

Newly elected

Here are the results of the just-concluded neighborhood board election on Oahu—the first election ever conducted on the Internet:

Hawaii Kai

DEGIACOMO, Frank
GARVIN, Rene
KNUDSEN, Greg
REILLY, Elizabeth
CLARK, Robert
GREY, Marian
MAKINO, Carl H.
WELLER, Gary E.
HANSON, Jeanette A.
MONK, Amy Y.
TANABE, David C.
ISGAR, Aaron
LEVY, Wayne D.

Kuliouou

YAP, Melvyn M.L.
QUINN, Kevin L.
SPANGLER, Sheridan
CAMPBELL, James “;Jay”;
CHUCK, Bob T.
LUM, Heather
STARR, Linda W.L.
YOUNG, Joseph W.C.
KAY, Peter
PALUMBO, Charles H.
SHARP, Philip E. Sr.
SCHELL, Ed

Waialae-Kahala

ANDERSON, F.M. “;Scotty”;
ROBERSON, Kelley C.
FULTON, Linda S.
SHAIN, Marley A.
TURBIN, Richard
HIMEDA, Sylvia S.

Kaimuki

CATER, John W.
LEONG, Abigail S.
MEADE, Ginny
NAHOOPII, Daniel
SCHNEIDER, Sharon T.
TAM, Leonard K.H.
YAMADA, Lori K.
CARVALHO, Daniel G.
TAM, Vernon H.Q.
TERRY, Mark D.

Diamond Head

ALLEN, Julia E.
CAIN, Michael
LUCKETT, Deborah
MILLER, Barbara C.
NARITA, Bert T.
CHANG, Kenneth C.C.
DROWN, Scot M.
EGGED, Rick
NAHOOPII, Bertha S.J.
WAIALEALE, George
BERLIN, Roxie
HARDEN, Jay R.
MATSON, Michelle Spalding
PERSONS, Don A.
WONG, Linda

Palolo

CARROLL, Traver
HACK, Randolph C.
NAKAYAMA, Darlene H.
ORANGE, Rachel S.
TANAKA, Dawn
EISEN, Tom
SHIRAKI, Earl M.
LAGUNERO, Jimmy L.
HOLTROP, Paul
HAYES, Gladys C. Gerlich
WEINSTEIN, Michael

Manoa

KIM, John S.
LEE, Fredrick
AMAZAKI, Kendall M. Jr.
ANDERSEN, Gary
CHUN, Rodney C.Y.
CASE, Kimberly S.
EADS, Eric
FASI-ALLISON, Grant
JACKSON, Dwight N.
NISHIOKA, Nadine
EBY, Martin K.
GARRETT, Andrew T.
HEINRICH, Tom
RAGSDALE, Milton

McCully

LARSON, Betty Lou
CUADRA, Gregory J.
DE VILBISS, Judy T.
HATA, Les
LOCKWOOD, Ron
TAKAMURA, Clifton H.
CARLOS, Marijane H.
GOLLNER, John K.
KATO, John
KYI-YIM, Serena
TOKUHARA, Lee Ann

Waikiki

AMONG, Les. A.
CARROLL, Helen T.
GRUNTZ, Raymond
POOLE, Jim
SIMPSON, Mary
APAKA, Jeff A.
ERTESCHIK, Louis
FINLEY, Robert “;Bob”;
FLOOD, Walter W.
MARTIN, Robert J.
TORIGOE, Charles K.
MERZ, Jeff
PETERS, Michael
RECTOR, Christopher Chris
SMITH, Mark

Makiki

BIGAY, John
CAROLE, Charles H.
CHONG, Diane L.H.
SMITH, Alika K.
STEELQUIST, John A.
HAURET, Phil
LEE, Allan
LEE, Eloise
MITCHELL, Sam
SARRAZIN, Mike J.
SCHILLER, Martin D.
CANNARELLA, Ronald J.
KAWANO, Richard H.
LEE, Chris
YOUNG, Susan L.

Ala Moana

HILEA, David Jr.
NEWCAMP, Sean R.
OKUMOTO, Steven K.
HURST, Larry
MICHAELS, Marilyn
STEVENS, Anne V.
BURR, Ralph E.

Nuuanu

BANNAN, Jim
MARN, James Y.
YOUNG, Sylvia K.G.
FIDELL, Jay M.
GARCIA, Alexander
HARRISON, John T.
HIDANO, Audrey
NERNEY, Philip S.

Downtown

AU, Alvin
CHANG, Anthony B.E.
LAVOIE, Frank A.
MATUSOW, Lynne
MIDDLETON, Carlton N.
MOLLRING, Delores F.
RUBY, T.A.
SMYTH, Thomas J.
YUEN, Stanford

Liliha

LAU, Brandon C.
MIKULANEC, Jacce S.
UEHARA, Claude
TAKETA, Wayne K.
FONG, Wesley F.
MITSUDA, Brandon R.
MOEPONO, Sesnita A.D.
NITTA, Donald K.
WHITE, Dale
STUBBS, Robert

Kalihi-Palama

FANG, Cardy
GUERRERO, Donald R.
KOLIO, Fetu T.
LOUIE, Roland H.
NG, Darryn D.
WAIHEE, Jennifer D.
YOUNG, Bernadette (Bernie) S.M.
IBAY, Rodolfo M.
VASQUEZ-DELA CERNA, Lynn
YAW, David R.
YAW, Shane D.K.
HARDING, Ken

Kalihi Valley

AMARAL, Melba
MURAOKA, Marci C.
SANTOS, Lori F.
WATLAND, Jory

Salt Lake

BAIRD, Larry P.
EGGE, Dennis N.
GLANSTEIN, Rachel M.
GODFREY, Lorene
KANEMARU, Chandra
MORITA, Maurice T.
PEPPER, Lennard J.
TROEGNER, Barbara
YOMES, David

Aiea

SUGIMURA, Jane
ARAKAKI, Tracy
SHELDON, Susan D.
HO, Wilbert M.S.
CLARK, William B. (Bill)
LUM, Danielle L.K.L.
PASSMORE, George A.
MOBLEY, Ron
WELLS, Kelsey H.

Pearl City

CLEMENTE, Roger G.
DUNCAN, Solray B.
LUM LEE, Christopher-Travis K.J.
OLEGARIO, Roger E.
PICKARD, James Kimo Sr.
VERAY, Larry
VINA, Cruz Jr.
YOKOTAKE, Blake

Waipahu

ANDRADE, Maureen “;Miguel”;
CHUN, Cory M.
CULLEN, Ty
GARCIA, Romeo A.
MACHA, Daryl M.
OSHIRO, Richard H.
PARAYNO, Ilalo B.
SANIATAN, Rito C.
TSUGAWA, Blaine K.
ANDREW, Michaels S.
MAUS, Tom
BURKE, Marty
ALFONSO, Edmund G. Jr.
HEROLAGA, Connie “;Pagente”;
WHEATLEY, Chuck B.
YAKOWENKO, George

Ewa

BERG, Tom
BROWNE, Vincent S. “;Rev. Vinny”;
CHANEL-BENJAMIN, Mary A.
FEVELLA, Kurt
KNAUER, Steve “;Kia 'iola”;
LACUESTA, Celeste K.
LACUESTA, Roger L.
LYNN Coby M.
TYNANES, Mitchell M.M.

Waianae

SILVA, Albert H.
SMITH, Bob R.
JORDAN, Jo
LEONIDA, Suzanne E.
PERRY, Johnnie-Mae L.
ANDERSON, Michael J.
ENDO, Calvin M.
SLOCUM, Frank D.

Mililani

BASS, Danielle M.M.
KAANEHE, Josie H.
POIRIER, Dick
SIEGEL, Carole M.
TSUNEYOSHI, Resa R.K.
WEINBERGER, Jessie S.
WONG, Alvin L.
FREED, Ann S.
IULI, Barbara “;Pua”;
MAGLINTI, William Jr.
THOMAS, Doug
MARSHALL, Joy A.
PARK, Rodney S.
SEGURA, Mary
GARAN, Shannon K.
HAMADA, Keith
SOLIS, Tony
BASS, William M.
CHUNG, Shayne
IMAMURA, Dennis F.
LOOMIS, Karen L.
REMINGTON, Charles L.

Wahiawa

ACOHIDO, Ben V.
BAUER, Cindy A.
FRANCHER, Joe
HARVEST, Dean K.K. I
ISHIKAWA, Jeanne C.
LEE, Mary Jane Y.S.
LORMAND, Robert L.
LOWERY, Hugh T.
MANLEY KOCH, Silvia

North Shore

ALAMEIDA, Jeffrey K.
MATSUURA, Reed H.
HIROTA, John H.
NG, Jacob Y.W. (Jake)
PAHINUI, Kathleen M.
RIVIERE, Gil
KAWAHAKUI, Arlene K.
LYONS, Michael D.
PHILIPS, Carol
SCOVILLE, Warren H.
LEINAU, Roberts “;Bob”; G.
MCELHENY, Blake D.
MILLER, Antya L.

Koolauloa

LEONARDI, Jimmy P.K.
PRIMACIO, Junior
ELKINGTON, John A.
KALUHIOKALANI, Norman
MILLER, Kela
STEWARD, Les
FALE, Richard L.
KALUA'U, Moana
KELLY-PADDOCK, Dotty
MATTOON, Creighton U.
LETTS, Dee Dee

Kahaluu

HOE, Keliko R.
GOMES, Lee
HENKIN, David L.
BUSCH, Ned
KALUHIWA, Leialoha “;Rocky”;
MACHADO, Arthur B. Jr.
LEVASSEUR, Kenneth W.
VALENCIA, Mark J.
SPRAY, Elwin
GEBOSKI, Gregory T.

Kaneohe

DITCH, Warren B. Jr.
MICHAELS, Phillip “;Mike”;
YAMASHIRO-HIRONAKA, Patricia
GAVIGAN, Marie M.
JANES, Christine M.
YANAGIHARA, Roy S.
FLANIGAN, John M.
AU, Sherrie
MORRIS, L.C.
IDA, Glenn S.
YAMAMOTO, Myles A.
SAGER, Bill

Kailua

ENOS, Virginia
HAWES, Michael R.
RETHERFORD, Ursula
CHINEN, Jon A.
CHRISTENSEN, Shawn
PRENTISS, Chuck
CORCORAN, Jim
URE, Linda
WEINBERG, Ron
WONG, Donna
BARTLEY, Larry
FENSKE, Derrick W.
FERNANDEZ, Catie
GLANSTEIN, Debbi
LINDGARD, Knud
PICO, Tom Jr.
TOMASA, Claudine M.

Waimanalo

DETTWEILER, Kahikino N.
HO, Wilson Kekoa
BUCK, Michael G.
ELLSWORTH, Phillip L.
JAMILA, Andrew M. Jr.
SPENCER, Solomon C.
ADDINGTON, Beverly R.
AKEO, Nani P.
HO, Rosina N.
ALIVADO, Shannon L.
WAHINEKAPU, Cynthia H.A.W.

Makakilo

CULLEN, Troy C.
DUDLEY, Kioni
KANNO, Brian
LEGAL, Jack M.
SOUZA, Evelyn E.
TIMSON, Maeda C.
YAMAMOTO, George S.
YOUNG, Linda Y.
ZAHN, Charles E.

Mililani Mauka

AGADER, Dana M.
COSTALES, Luella
ELLIS, David
HAZAMA, Dean I.
OISHI, Stanton, K.
SUWA, Alan M.
TAMASHIRO, Keith Y.
YOSHIMURA, Lance K.
YOUNG, Pamela

Nanakuli

AIPOALANI, Hanalei Y.
KELII, James Kimo
KILA, Victor A.
MANAKU, James K. Sr.
POMAIKAI, Paul Kaipo Sr.
REZENTES, Cynthia K.L.
TERUYA, Kahanamoku Patty
VELLESES, Gary K.
WAIAMAU-NUNUHA, Neddie G.