Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 10, 1 October 1995 — Plebiscite rescheduled [ARTICLE]

Plebiscite rescheduled

The Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections CouncU (HSEC) has rescheduled the sovereignty plebiscite to Sept. 2, 19%, the anniversary of Queen Lili'uokalani's birthday. The vote will be held by mail between July 1 and Aug. 15, 19%, and the results will be announced on that new date. Voter registration forms are available from the HSEC office - eall 587-2834 and they"ll send you a form. The date change, forced by a laek of state funding, was voted on by eouneil members Sept. 16. The plebiscite was originally planned for late 1995. Hawaiians worldwide will be able to say whether or not they want to re-establish a sovereign Hawaiian nation. HSEC Executive Director Tara Lulani McKinzie said that, if the answer is "yes," delegates will be elected in May 1997, with a constitutional convention convening in the summer of 1997 or 1998. McKinzie said she anticipates funding will be shared equally by the state, OHA, and the council's private fundraising body. Meanwhile, the eouneil is seeking volunteers to assist with voter registration. HSEC is hoping to register between 100,000 and 150,000 voters worldwide between now and July 15, 19%, and, says Debbie Behm, HSEC voter education coordinator, "Many volunteers wūl be needed to meet these goals." Volunteers are needed to assist in the following areas: fundraising and special events coordination, genealogy verification, voter hoīline and information services, and general eleiieal. Nonpaid internships are also available in the areas of accounting, education, research and marketing. For more information about the plebiscite, eall 587-2834 or, tollfree, 1-800-958-6837 (1 -800-95- VOTER). HSEC's next meeting is set for Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. That moming the eouneil will hold an invitation-only informational briefīng for tbe governor, key legislators, and OHA trustees, McKinzie said.