HAWAII
FIVE STARS
A brief analysis of policy and process changes made to the vote at home system in 2021 and recommendations moving forward.
HAWAII
FIVE STARS
A brief analysis of policy and process changes made to the vote at home system in 2021 and recommendations moving forward.
WHERE HAWAII STANDS
Our five-star system ranks states from one star (very restricted vote at home options) to five star (full vote at home options). It's a quick and easy way for voters, election officials and policy makers to see how their state's voting system measures up to others around the country.
WHERE HAWAII STANDS
Our five-star system ranks states from one star (very restricted vote at home options) to five star (full vote at home options). It's a quick and easy way for voters, election officials and policy makers to see how their state's voting system measures up to others around the country.
NOV. 2020 Ranking
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
❌ Automatic Voter Registration
❌ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking (NOT IDEAL)
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
MAY 2021 Ranking
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration (PENDING 2022)
❌ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking (NOT IDEAL)
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
NOV. 2020 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
❌ Automatic Voter Registration
❌ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers (SOME COUNTIES)
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking (TEMPORARY)
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing (TEMPORARY)
MAY 2021 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot (TEMPORARILY Statewide, Permanent for 15 Counties)
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
❌ Risk Limiting Audits (PENDING 2022)
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking (TEMPORARY)
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
OPPORTUNITIES
Ballot Tracking & Voter Notification
Hawaii can increase voter confidence by allowing voters to track their ballot much like an Amazon package by improving its current ballot tracking system. Advanced ballot tracking systems can proactively notify voters when their ballot takes a new step in the path from being sent to them to finally being counted (or rejected). If a ballot is rejected, these ballot tracking tools can be used as another method to contact voters if there is a signature mismatch or deficiency on their return envelope.
Data Infrastructure & Integrity
With a dramatic increase in mail ballots, Hawaii has a great opportunity to reach for the gold standard of post-election security by implementing risk limiting audits. Further, Hawaii can help ensure its voter roll data is accurate by becoming a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Election Day Postmark
Accepting ballots with postmarks indicating they were sent on election day is a best practice to ensure that voters are given all options to vote their ballot in a timely manner. Accepting Election Day postmarks is estimated in most jurisdictions to decrease ballot rejection rates by half. We recommend that not only does a state allow the physical postmark on a ballot, but also to integrate into the USPS system for electronic postmarks to serve as validation that a ballot was mailed on time.
OPPORTUNITIES
Ballot Tracking & Voter Notification
Hawaii can increase voter confidence by allowing voters to track their ballot much like an Amazon package by improving its current ballot tracking system. Advanced ballot tracking systems can proactively notify voters when their ballot takes a new step in the path from being sent to them to finally being counted (or rejected). If a ballot is rejected, these ballot tracking tools can be used as another method to contact voters if there is a signature mismatch or deficiency on their return envelope.
Data Infrastructure & Integrity
With a dramatic increase in mail ballots, Hawaii has a great opportunity to reach for the gold standard of post-election security by implementing risk limiting audits. Further, Hawaii can help ensure its voter roll data is accurate by becoming a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Election Day Postmark
Accepting ballots with postmarks indicating they were sent on election day is a best practice to ensure that voters are given all options to vote their ballot in a timely manner. Accepting Election Day postmarks is estimated in most jurisdictions to decrease ballot rejection rates by half. We recommend that not only does a state allow the physical postmark on a ballot, but also to integrate into the USPS system for electronic postmarks to serve as validation that a ballot was mailed on time.
RECENT LEGISLATION IN HAWAII
As of May 20, 2021
Conveniently, Hawaii had already been planning to transition to proactively mailing all voters a ballot in 2020 thanks to a 2019 law (HB1248) so the state already had the infrastructure needed in order to conduct the election safely and securely in the “new normal”.
That didn’t stop the state from making further improvements in 2021. In 2021, the state passed SB159 to implement automatic voter registration along with SB 548, which utilizes the USPS change of address to continue to maintain the integrity of their voter registration database as well as mandating that voting machines have auditable paper trails and criminalizes establishing fake drop boxes.
RECENT LEGISLATION IN HAWAII
As of May 20, 2021
Conveniently, Hawaii had already been planning to transition to proactively mailing all voters a ballot in 2020 thanks to a 2019 law (HB1248) so the state already had the infrastructure needed in order to conduct the election safely and securely in the “new normal”.
That didn’t stop the state from making further improvements in 2021. In 2021, the state passed SB159 to implement automatic voter registration along with SB 548, which utilizes the USPS change of address to continue to maintain the integrity of their voter registration database as well as mandating that voting machines have auditable paper trails and criminalizes establishing fake drop boxes.
HAWAII'S LEGISLATIVE DATES
First day of session: January 20, 2021
Last day of session: May 9, 2021
HAWAII'S LEGISLATIVE DATES
First day of session: January 20, 2021
Last day of session: May 9, 2021
OUR CONCLUSION
In summary, Hawaii didn’t have to make any major changes in order to adapt in 2020, as its existing system proved resilient enough to maintain its ability to allow voters to vote safely, both in person and by mail, in spite of the pandemic. Since so many people choose to vote their mail ballots, the state was able to provide adequate PPE and maintain social distance at vote centers for the portion of voters that decided to vote in person. As always, we stress that policy is important, but it is just as important that it is implemented well and we at the National Vote at Home Institute stand ready to help design and implement these policies and processes and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our expertise.
OUR CONCLUSION
In summary, Hawaii didn’t have to make any major changes in order to adapt in 2020, as its existing system proved resilient enough to maintain its ability to allow voters to vote safely, both in person and by mail, in spite of the pandemic. Since so many people choose to vote their mail ballots, the state was able to provide adequate PPE and maintain social distance at vote centers for the portion of voters that decided to vote in person. As always, we stress that policy is important, but it is just as important that it is implemented well and we at the National Vote at Home Institute stand ready to help design and implement these policies and processes and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our expertise.
With the November 2 election around the corner, election officials in Cumberland County, PA are ... boosting voter confidence with tips for a hassle-free #VoteAtHome experience. Check it out here 🗳️ https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/10/cumberland-county-reminds-voters-to-place-correct-postage-on-mail-in-absentee-ballots.html