Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
The Hawaii results are ABSENTEE BALLOTS only.
Article on turnout:
Voter turnout high State election officials expected the big crowds and say the balloting is going well
Gregg Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com
Island voters were standing in line in many of Hawaii’s 353 polling places this morning in a presidential election so tight that the state’s four electoral votes could be a deciding factor in the race.
Jerilyn Jeffries, precinct chairwoman at Noelani Elementary School in Manoa, said there were as many as 20 people waiting for the polling place to open at 7 a.m.
At Kilauea Recreation Center next to Kaimuki Intermediate School Robert Dotson, precinct chairman, reported an equal amount of waiting voters.
Within 90 minutes, Dotson said, 155 of the 609 voters registered at the Kaimuki polling place had cast their ballots.
“It was very smooth,” said Dotson. “We opened on time.”
Rex Quidilla, state Office of Elections spokesman, said there were no problems reported at the 217 polling places which his office closely monitors. The state has 647,236 people registered to vote in this year’s general election, compared with 637,349 four years ago.
At Noelani School, which suffered major mud and water damage from Saturday night’s heavy rain and flooding, Jeffries said that she could only use two-thirds of the cafeteria space since the rest of room was being used to store furniture and equipment while classrooms and offices were being cleaned.
Classes at Noelani were canceled on Monday and the school won’t reopen until Thursday.
Jeffries said she checked the cafeteria several times on Sunday, but wasn’t able to get in because of storm debris. “The whole parking lot was just sludge on Sunday.” she said.
School officials had cleaned up the parking lot and cafeteria by yesterday when an elections crew came in to set up the 13 voting booths. “I just had to stagger the booths since I didn’t have the space to line them up against the walls,” Jeffries said.
The close presidential race seemed utmost in island voter’s minds.
“I think it’s important to vote since everything is so close,” said Ralna Carbonel, 28.
Jessica Risco, who just moved to Hawaii a few months ago from Minnesota to attend graduate school, said: “I think it’s very cool that Hawaii is a battle ground state.”
She said she voted for John Kerry because he offered a better alternative to the Bush administration.
“I don’t like the way he (Bush) represents us in the global community.”
Manoa voter Albert Ogasawara, 72, voted for George Bush four years ago.
But the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed his mind.
“I don’t want my grandson to go to war,” said Ogasawara, explaining his switch to Kerry. “I lost one brother in the Korean War and that was enough.”
At Kilauea Recreation Center, the Iraq war was the deciding factor for Clarence Silva, 52, a graphics developer.
“I think Bush mismanaged the whole thing,” Silva said. “I supported the president when we went in, but he botched it.”
Clark Hatch, chairman emeritus of Clark Hatch Fitness Centers, said he reaffirmed his support for Bush by voting for him again.
“I have more confidence in him,” said Hatch, 65. “At this time we need a more determined leader.”
Terri Harvey, 47, who considers herself an independent, said she chose Bush because “every election is important.
“If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain.
“I want to vote and say my piece.”