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September 1966

November 1966

Calendar of Events
Preliminary Analysis of Member Interest in Program Items (Nancy Dykes)
President's Page (Mary George)
Do you Know about Hawaii's Election Laws?
Have You Found Your Prospective Member?
Units
Aloha to Our New Members
Election Year Briefing - 1966
Tentative Schedule: 1966-1967
Excitement for Your Calendar
Flash! Louise Marr to Represent Hawaii at Water Workshop
Ethics in Government
Water Pollution
State Supplement - Consensus - Election Laws (insert)

State Supplement

CONSENSUS - ELECTION LAWS - September, 1966

After a study of the reports received from the Boards of the Honolulu and Hawaii County Leagues, the State Board concludes:

  1. Our membership does feel we should have 'more in our law to enable the County Clerks to keep the registers current'. However, we do not have agreement on how to add to our laws.

  2. The consensus among our membership is that they do not want a 'nonpartisan' ballot at the Primary. The membership seems to feel a nonpartisan candidate should have the right to file in the General Election, that the method for filing needs further study and discussion.

  3. After a very thorough discussion the State Board felt that while a majority of the membership were in favor of the elimination of the Literacy Qualification from the law, ire still do not have a strong enough consensus to allow us to undertake action. Therefore, no public statements will be made by the State League on literacy.

  4. We were unable to reach any kind of a consensus on Greater Centralization in election law administration; therefore, we will study it more.

  5. There was too great a variance in our membership about the training of election personnel, and responsibility for this training, so no consensus was reached here either. Please all of you members, watch and listen this next election period, so that we can discuss these subjects again,

  6. Since many of our members had very unhappy experiences in voting in past years, we ask all of you to go to the polls this time with eyes and ears open. Then perhaps we can, as a League, come up with some ideas for study - and later ACTION.

So the result of over a year of study (and for most of us, five meetings on Election Laws) is:

We should

  1. Lower the voting age from 20 to 18 years.

  2. Lower the residence requirements in the state from 1 year to 6 months; in the precinct from 3 months to 30 days.

  3. Give federal employees and military residing in our state the right to vote - just as any other qualified voter.

  4. Insist on some identification at the polling place.

We would like to see more in our law to help the clerk keep the register current - but have no suggested method of change.

We do want a non-partisan to be able to run; but don't want a non-partisan ballot at the Primary. We still have not agreed on how we would like this done.

See other side for ACTION

ACTION - ELECTION LAWS - September 1966

These next weeks are going, to be Campaign weeks. There be coffees, PLEASE DO GO. Go and meet the candidate. Talk to him (or her). Show how much you know. Ask good questions! Listen, make a note of your reactions to him (or her) and to the answers given to your questions.

BEFORE you go, bone up on our CONSENSUS as noted on the other side of this page. Perhaps even take the time to dig out your copies of the two FACTS AND ISSUES and your STUDY GUIDE, and be 'fresh' on those discussions we had.

Remember every little bit will help when the Legislature meets. Every contact we have will add up when the tally is taken on the votes.

So get up and out - go to the COFFEE, the MEETING, the RALLY.

WHO KNOWS: it may well be your question, or your conversation, with Candidate Jones that will start him thinking your way.

THUS it could well be you who took the action to get his vote

and

GOT IT!

Our STUDY GUIDE on Hawaii's Election Laws and Election Law Administration was sold out (As many of you know, for we borrowed many from generous members.) We had brought it up to the minute. Even included the Military Voting Bill that passed the Budget Session of the Legislature in March, 1966, and the 1966 Party Platform previsions with regard to elections. But our earlier energy burned out, and or we have only JUST NOW gotten it re-run and put together (this time in sturdy covers).

Look for it at your next Unit Meeting. Those of you who have really dog-eared copies might want a now one; others might want one for a friend.

COST 75¢ to members - $1.00 to non-members.

See other side for CONSENSUS

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