Understanding Why Understanding Why The Electoral Process The Electoral Process

Matters…Matters…To You, to All of UsTo You, to All of Us

Piilani Kaopuiki & JoAnn MaruokaPiilani Kaopuiki & JoAnn MaruokaThe League of Women Voters of HonoluluThe League of Women Voters of Honolulu

24 September 200824 September 2008

http://lwv-hawaii.com/index.htm

The League of Women Voters (LWV)The League of Women Voters (LWV) strictlystrictly Non-PartisanNon-Partisan

wholeheartedlywholeheartedly PoliticalPolitical

• National + 900 state & local LeaguesNational + 900 state & local Leagues

• Original grassroots citizen network, Original grassroots citizen network, consensus of women & men membersconsensus of women & men members

• LWV-HILWV-HI is statewide, comprised of county is statewide, comprised of county Leagues: Leagues: HonoluluHonolulu, , Hawaii IsHawaii Is., ., KauaiKauai, & , & MauiMaui

LWV-HawaiiLWV-Hawaii

• The League of Women Voters is where The League of Women Voters is where hands-on work to safeguard democracy hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to community improvementleads to community improvement

• A great resource with links to other A great resource with links to other relevant sites is the League websiterelevant sites is the League website

www.lwv-hawaii.comwww.lwv-hawaii.com

• Elected officials make decisions about Elected officials make decisions about things that are important to things that are important to YOUYOU, , including including YOURYOUR job, job, YOURYOUR health care, health care, YOURYOUR environment & environment & YOURYOUR security security

• Voting is Voting is YOURYOUR chance to choose the chance to choose the decision makers & tell them what decision makers & tell them what YOUYOU want want

So What? Why Should I Care?So What? Why Should I Care?

15th AMENDMENT15th AMENDMENT, Section 1., Section 1. The right of The right of US citizens to vote shall US citizens to vote shall notnot be denied or be denied or abridged by the US or by any State onabridged by the US or by any State on account of race, color, or previous account of race, color, or previous condition of servitudecondition of servitude. . (Ratified in 1870)(Ratified in 1870)

19th AMENDMENT19th AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of , Section 1. The right of US citizens to vote shall US citizens to vote shall notnot be denied or be denied or abridged by the US or by any State onabridged by the US or by any State on account of sexaccount of sex. . (Ratified in 1920)(Ratified in 1920)

THE PLAYERSTHE PLAYERS

Constitutional Election RightsConstitutional Election Rights

24th AMENDMENT24th AMENDMENT, , Section 1. The right of US Section 1. The right of US citizens to vote in any primary or other election for citizens to vote in any primary or other election for President or VP, for electors for President or VP, President or VP, for electors for President or VP, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall shall notnot be denied or abridged by the US or any Statebe denied or abridged by the US or any State byby reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other taxtax.. (Ratified in 1964)(Ratified in 1964)

26th AMENDMENT26th AMENDMENT, , Section 1.Section 1. The right ofThe right of US US citizenscitizens, who are, who are 18 years of age or older18 years of age or older, , to to votevote shall shall notnot be denied or abridged by the US or be denied or abridged by the US or by any Stateby any State on account of ageon account of age. . (Ratified in 1971) (Ratified in 1971)

THE PLAYERS THE PLAYERS (cont’d)(cont’d)

Constitutional Election Constitutional Election RightsRights

A presidential election revolves around A presidential election revolves around beliefs & actions of American voters beliefs & actions of American voters

Come Election Day, Come Election Day, no one else’sno one else’s opinions opinions matter, & matter, & no one elseno one else has control over the has control over the outcome but the outcome but the votersvoters

VOTING = THE GREAT VOTING = THE GREAT EQUALIZEREQUALIZER IN AMERICAN SOCIETY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY

WE THE WE THE PEOPLEPEOPLE

YOU HAVE 1 VOTE = EVERYONE ELSEYOU HAVE 1 VOTE = EVERYONE ELSE

With that 1 vote, With that 1 vote, youyou have the power to have the power to influence decisions that will affect influence decisions that will affect youryour life life YourYour job, job, youryour taxes, taxes, youryour health care, health care, youryour Social Security, whether the nation goes to Social Security, whether the nation goes to war, you name it — war, you name it — they are all at stakethey are all at stake

WE THE WE THE PEOPLEPEOPLE

In Nov 2008, Hawaii Votes In Nov 2008, Hawaii Votes on:on:

• President & VP (electors)President & VP (electors)• Both US RepresentativesBoth US Representatives• Approx half of the 25 State SenatorsApprox half of the 25 State Senators• All 51 State RepresentativesAll 51 State Representatives• Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)• County MayorsCounty Mayors

• Whether to hold a ConConWhether to hold a ConCon (Constitutional Convention)(Constitutional Convention)

• REGISTER to vote & help others registerREGISTER to vote & help others register

• TALK to people about candidates & issues TALK to people about candidates & issues & why you feel it’s important to vote& why you feel it’s important to vote

• FIND OUT if your family, friends, neighbors have FIND OUT if your family, friends, neighbors have what they need to make informed decisions & what they need to make informed decisions & get to the polls… maybe all they need is a rideget to the polls… maybe all they need is a ride

• DON’T GO to the polling place ALONE… DON’T GO to the polling place ALONE… make a date to take a friend or neighbormake a date to take a friend or neighbor

How YOU Can Help How YOU Can Help

• General ElectionGeneral Election Tue, Nov 4Tue, Nov 4

• Last Day to RegisterLast Day to Register Mon, Oct 6 Mon, Oct 6

• Early Voting:Early Voting: - Last Day to Request- Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballotan Absentee Ballot Tue, Oct 28 Tue, Oct 28

- Walk-in polling places- Walk-in polling places Tue, Oct 21 – Tue, Oct 21 – Sat, Nov 1Sat, Nov 1

Important 2008 DatesImportant 2008 Dates

Open: Tue, Oct 21 – Sat, Nov 1Open: Tue, Oct 21 – Sat, Nov 1Mon – Sat, 8 am – 4 pmMon – Sat, 8 am – 4 pm

• Honolulu Hale (City Hall)Honolulu Hale (City Hall)

• UH Manoa Campus Center, Rm 306UH Manoa Campus Center, Rm 306

• Aiea Shopping Center, Suite 246Aiea Shopping Center, Suite 246

• Kapolei Hale, 1000 Ulu'ohia St, Conf Rm A,BKapolei Hale, 1000 Ulu'ohia St, Conf Rm A,B

• Windward Mall, across from Farrell'sWindward Mall, across from Farrell's

Early Voting: Walk-in Polling Early Voting: Walk-in Polling PlacesPlaces

Make Make YOURYOUR voice heard voice heard on Election Day!on Election Day!

Get Registered!Get Registered!

Get Informed!Get Informed!

Get Out & Vote!Get Out & Vote!

YOUYOU Are Our Are Our Future!Future!

We Wish You We Wish You the Best of Luckthe Best of Luck

Questions?Questions?