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Hawaii made a quantum leap forward when it allowed statewide mail-in balloting in 2020. It was a good idea that led to a major increase in turnout while also retaining the opportunity to vote in person. But it took years for the legislation to pass.

The same goes for automatic voter registration, where citizens applying for state identification cards and driver’s licenses can easily update their voting registration information or register to vote. Thankfully, AVR became state law on July 1.

Another proposal that has been tested — successfully, as seen in the Democratic party of Hawaii’s presidential primary last spring — is ranked choice voting. Several measures to enact RCV were considered in the 2021 legislative session and the proposals carry over into the new session that begins in January.

Here’s yet another good proposal that deserves attention by state lawmakers: a voters’ information pamphlet to help Hawaii residents make informed decisions when casting their ballots. More than a dozen states require their offices of elections to publish and distribute a voters’ guide, including the four other Pacific states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.

The Hawaii Office of Elections used to publish a voters’ guide that included pro and con arguments for proposed constitutional amendments. But a lawsuit in 2004 convinced the Hawaii Supreme Court that the state failed to follow mandated guidelines when it put a constitutional amendment regarding criminal prosecution on the ballot.

In a 2018 Civil Beat article, state elections chief Scott Nago cast doubt on ever producing a voters’ guide again because, as he put it, it can be difficult to explain the issues fairly.

Voter services section head Nedielyn Bueno says the office is apolitical and focused on the mechanics of voting — running elections, enforcing rules and laws, getting people registered and reminding them when, how and where to vote.

But if the Legislature and governor approve legislation, Hawaii could join other states that believe providing information to voters is a fundamental part of democracy.

The Alaska Model

The National Conference of State Legislatures says that election officials are required by law to publish and distribute a voter information pamphlet.

NCSL identified seven states in a 2014 report — the four Pacific ones noted above along with Arizona, Utah and North Carolina — as providing detailed pamphlets on candidates, ballot measures “but also much more.”

Alaska’s pamphlet stands out. It requires its chief elections officer — the lieutenant governor — to prepare a pamphlet and mail it to each registered voter household in the state. And it must contain the following:

• photos and campaign statements submitted by candidates
• information and recommendations regarding judicial candidates
• a map of House districts for the region
• a sample ballot
• an absentee ballot application
• detailed information on each ballot measure
• a maximum of two pages of material submitted by each political party
• additional information on voting procedures that is determined to be necessary

The 2020 edition is 152 pages and includes photos, maps, cartoon illustrations (like a bear wearing a Covid-19 mask adorned with the state flag) along with the full text of ballot measures with statements in support and in opposition. It also lists recommendations and rules to follow when voting during the pandemic (for example, “Encouraging voters who have health concerns to vote Absentee By-Mail”).

Sharon Forrest, administrative officer for the Alaska Division of Elections, says the state has been publishing and distributing a pamphlet for decades. The 2020 edition cost about $450,000 to print and mail and is free to all registered voters in the state of more than 730,000 people.

Forrest said her office has heard from voters in rural areas that appreciate the pamphlet for providing “quick access” to candidates and other voter issues.

“We don’t really hear complaints, unless we forgot to put someone in the pamphlet or if a candidate elects not to be included, which they can choose,” she said.

Hawaii could benefit from a pamphlet similar to Alaska’s, although we don’t vote for judicial candidates. Other states also have good ideas.

NCSL calls California’s law on voter information “robust.” The secretary of state must mail the pamphlets to each registered voter household, although voters can opt out of receiving the printed copy. The law also says that the information must be provided in an audio recorded version and over the internet.

Oregon — “the state with the most active citizen initiative process in the country” — produces a “very thorough voter pamphlet,” says NCSL. The secretary of state must produce a state voter pamphlet and can work jointly with counties.

Additional means of distribution are allowed, including radio and television broadcasts in Oregon. Washington’s secretary of state, meanwhile, makes the pamphlet available in taped form, Braille and in electronic form.

Ballotpedia in 2020 and reported that all of the Pacific states plus Arizona scored the highest possible score in terms of features — six out of six.

Those features include providing pro and con arguments, a fiscal impact statement that explains how a measure will affect state finances, and translations into multiple languages.

Hawaii’s elections office does offer Chinese and Ilocano instructions on its website and translated ballots in both languages. Bueno said the U.S. Department of Justice determines which languages are mandated and updated direction is expected next month.

But other states with diverse cultures go further: According to Ballotpedia, California’s ballots come in 10 languages including Hindi, Khmer, Vietnamese and Tagalog, while Alaska offers seven including Inupiaq, Gwich’in Athabascan and Siberian Yupik.

It’s Up To Lawmakers

The Hawaii Legislature has introduced voter information guide bills in recent years, but they have not gotten far.

But in 2019 calling for a detailed pamphlet did receive hearings and testimony.

It initially called for the chief elections officer to publish and disseminate the pamphlet but was later amended to only require that the pamphlet be available online and for the elections office to notify voters with a postcard, with the help of the four county clerks.

The postcards would also include posting in public libraries, polling places, in a daily or weekly publication of statewide or countywide circulation, and be available in Braille, large print or audio recording.

“A voters’ pamphlet is a cheap and effective way to improve Hawaii’s civic health.” — Colin Moore

“The purpose of these pamphlets is to allow voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote by informing them about each of the ballot measures and candidates seeking office, reading both sides of an argument to each of the ballot measures, and learning where each of the candidates stand on the issues that affect the voters,” .

Among those testifying in support of the measure was Colin Moore, the director of the University of Hawaii Public Policy Center.

“Nearly every empirical study of voters’ guides indicates that they are an inexpensive and effective way to increase civic engagement,” . “First, voters read them and find them useful. One survey of Californians found that a majority of people who read their guide considered it their most important source of election information.”

He continued: “Second, voters’ guides can level the playing field for candidates who are unable to raise large sums of money. In many states, all candidates are given the opportunity to communicate directly to voters through a brief written statement included in the pamphlet.”

Moore also testified that the pamphlets reduce “voter drop-off rates,” when citizens don’t vote on certain questions or for certain offices:

Moore said he stands by his testimony today but emphasizes that the pamphlets must be printed and distributed. He points to his home state of California as an example.

“Everyone sees it on their dining room table before elections,” he said. “People carefully mark them up. There would be a public outcry if the state did not publish them.”

Sandy Ma, executive director of Common Cause Hawaii, agrees that a printed pamphlet is necessary: “If a kupuna does not have a computer, how are they going to read it online?”

She also notes that many public housing facilities in Hawaii do not have free high-speed internet access.

Hawaii has made great strides over the past few years in empowering voters. Publishing and distributing a voters’ pamphlet will continue that constructive pattern.

If you agree, contact your and . They are already working on legislation for 2022.