Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 3, 1 March 1998 — NATIVE VOTE '98: You will make the difference. [ARTICLE]

NATIVE VOTE '98: You will make the difference.

By Manu Boyd Any legal Hawai'i resident at least 18 years old by election day ean register to vote and participate in the election process (except for convicted felons serving time). Men, women, rich, poor, employed, unemployed — anyone. In 19th eentury Hawai'i, voting was a priviledge reserved for a select few. The law only allowed adult men with a specified minimum ineome and land holding to participate. Women's suffrage (the right to vote) was not realized until 1930. Today, voting is one of the fundamental rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic society. Democracy is defined as "government by the people through representation." As citizens of a democracy, we elect people who believe in what we believe in, and who ean make decisions that are to our benefit. Conversely, our vote ean unseat a representative that does not share our views or work to our benefit. If s that simple. The State of Hawai'i is divided into senate and house districts. What district do you live in? Who is your senator and representative? Do they vote in your best interest? What are their positions on Hawaiian issues such as sovereignty, Hawaiian entitlements, Hawaiian language education, and native rights? This year more than ever, you need to be able to answer these questions. If your elected representatives do not measure up, make a move to effect change. Native Vote '98 is a grassroots campaign to increase

Native Hawaiian voter registration and turnout on eleetion day. Patterned after the Native Vote campaign in Alaska, Native Vote '98 has the potential of making a significant difference at the polls. The high rate of participation by Native Alaskans in a recent election put a new governor in office. In Hawai'i, many races in senate and house districts, as well as for trustee positions at the Office of Hawaiians Affairs have been very close. Your vote, and the collective participation of the entire Hawaiian community, will make a difference at the polls this year. The deadline for voter registration for the primary eleetion is Aug. 20. For the general election, it's Oct. 5. The primary election will be held Sept. 19, the general election will be Nov. 3., and Sept. 4 is the deadline for filing for candidacy for the OHA Board of Trustees. Any person who knowingly fumishes false information dn the voter application form, including information on Hawaiian ancestry, may be guilty of a Class C Felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. If you have changed your address or name, or didn't vote in the last election, you need to re-register. If you are unsure whether you are registered, re-register. For information on how to register or on special voting services. eall the Voter Hotline at (808) 453-VOTE (8683). Neighbor Islands eall toll-free at 1 -(808) 442-VOTE (8683). Hawaiians ean make a difference in 1998. ■