Leaguers in Hawaii knew voters were more likely to vote by mail and the numbers proved it. Over 407,000 ballots in the Primary and slightly over 579,00 ballots in the 2020 General Elections were cast, both record highs in Hawaii. General Election turnout was nearly 70% of the 832,466 registered voters.

Vote411 was a hit, too. The number of Vote411 online sessions increased 38% in 2020 compared to 2016, the previous presidential cycle.

Thanks to a grant from LWV of Honolulu Education Fund, we ran print ads for the first time before the General Election. From October 19 to October 24, a small, front page ad ran in the Star-Advertiser, Hawaii Tribune-Herald, West Hawaii Today, The Garden Island, and Maui News. LWV Hawai`i County board member Ilona Carlson designed the ad that ran once on each newspaper.

Hawai`i County Leaguers are familiar with the ad. Sue Dursin had t-shirts printed with the design. Quite the conversation starter at our voter registrations and in the grocery line.

User sessions over those six ad days jumped 14% over the previous 10 months so we can assume voters saw the ads. Sessions in Kauai jumped 50%.

Candidate participation also set records. Statewide, candidate participation was 64%. Hawaii County led the pack with 89% of all candidates responding. Maui County and Federal/OHA closely followed with 80%.

Many thanks to the LWV Honolulu members led by LWV Honolulu president, Christopher Edwards, who contacted 150 Honolulu candidates. Thanks also to the team of 18 from Hawai`i County League who called, emailed and texted the 183 candidates running for U.S. Congress, OHA, and Maui, Kauai and Hawaii County offices. They are: Kit Afable, Ilona Carlson, Brad Clark, Armon Collman, Sue Dursin, Margaret Drake, Marjorie Erway, Karin Hazelhoff, Helen Hemmes, Diane Herrera, Sue Irvine, Michele Mitsumori, Rosemarie Muller, Holly Plackett, Ruth Robison, Rebecca Steele, Sonya Torweihe and Diane Ware.

-- By Donna Oba, Vote411 Coordinator