Voting Rights Organization Cites New Tool Designed to Help Voters Turnout as Evidence  

Today, Common Cause Hawaii is calling on county election administrators to add new Voter Service Centers and Drop Boxes across the state for a truly fair, inclusive election, citing a newly released “Voting Location Siting Tool.” The tool, created by University of Southern California’s Center for Inclusive Democracy, is an interactive map that identified locations for voting locations that would provide the most accessible and equitable election. Originally launched in 2018, the mapping tool is now available for the first time in Hawaii and 13 other states.

“No matter where you live, every voter deserves equal access to the ballot box and the Voting Location Siting Tool makes that idea a reality,” said Sandy Ma, Common Cause Hawaii Executive Director. “In 2020, we learned the hard way what happens without enough in-person voting locations: long lines and upwards of six-hour delays. We must ensure that Voter Service Centers and Drop Boxes are distributed equitably so Native Hawaiians and disadvantaged communities know they are encouraged to vote and participate in our representative democracy.”

In Hawaii, locations of Voter Service Centers and Drop Boxes were recently announced. After comparing the list of locations with the Voting Location Siting Tool, Common Cause Hawaii recommends the following locations be added: 

• City and County of Honolulu: 6 additional Voter Service Centers and 3 additional Drop Box locations 

• • Waianae, Nanakuli, Ewa Beach, Pearl City, Laie, Waimanalo (Voter Service Centers) 
  • Nanakuli, Laie, Waimanalo (Drop Boxes) 

• Maui County: 3 additional Voter Service Centers 

• • Lahaina, Kihei, Makawao 

• Kauai County: 2 additional Voter Service Centers 

• • Poipu/Koloa area, Anahola 

• Hawaii County: 4 additional Voter Service Centers 

• • Pahoa, Waimea, Volcano, Honokaa 

Total: 15 additional Voter Service Centers, 3 additional Drop Box locations

By law, only one Voter Service Center is required in each of Hawaii’s four counties ten days prior to Election Day. County clerks may operate additional Voter Service Centers with varying days or hours of operation to service the voters in particular areas that otherwise could not support the operation of a Voter Service Center for then business days or the same times statewide.

The Voting Location Siting Tool uses a web-based data mapping system to identify areas within a half mile in diameter where vote centers and polling places would most effectively serve voters. The mapping system uses a facility allocation model that incorporates local demographic and historical voting data that can be customized based on specific local needs. By utilizing the tool, election officials can optimize the locations of Voter Service Centers and ballot Drop Boxes for both voting-by-mail and in-person voting.

The state’s primary election is August 13, 2022 and ballots are scheduled to arrive July 26, 2022 with a single Voter Service Center required to open August 1, 2022. The general election will be held November 8, 2022 and ballots are scheduled to arrive October 21, 2022 with a single Voter Service Center required to open October 25, 2022.

To view the Voting Location Siting Tool, click here.