STATE OF
OFFICE OF ELECTIONS
FACTSHEET
THE
RIGHT TO VOTE
The right to vote is a basic right and
responsibility of a democratic society. A person must register before he or she
may vote. The process of voter registration is voluntary and must be respected
as an individual right exercised solely by that citizen.
An individual may lose the right to vote when he or
she:
1.
is deemed by the
courts as mentally incompetent; or
2.
is imprisoned for
a felony.
ASSISTANCE TO VOTERS WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS
Long
stay patients at care homes or patients unexpectedly admitted to a hospital are
still eligible to vote.
To
ensure the security and integrity of election related activities at care
facilities, staff members are discouraged from participating directly with a
voter in the process of registering and/or voting absentee. Staff may assist only
upon receiving specific authorization from the resident (voter).
When
asked by a voter to render assistance, care facility staff must remain
nonpartisan and have at least two people NOT of the same political party
present. This will help eliminate the appearance of any election irregularities
while assisting a voter.
In addition:
·
Always be mindful
of the voting rights of patients as well as their family members;
·
Refrain from
explicit or implicit discriminatory or coercive voter registration practices.
Both are prohibited;
·
Completed voter
registration forms shall not be collected by the distributing person or
organization unless specific authorization is provided by the clerk or chief
election officer;
·
Any mailed
requests for an absentee ballot shall be mailed by the voter directly to the
clerk.
·
Copying,
duplicating or otherwise making use of any information provided on registration
forms is prohibited. Information provided by the individual on the affidavit
for registration is confidential;
·
If acting as an
intermediary to pick up an absentee ballot, a letter of authorization from the
registered voter must be obtained and submitted to the Clerk.
·
No one may ask a
voter to see or look at the contents of his or her ballot or choice of party;
·
No one may mark a
person=s ballot or direct a person in voting without
authorization;
·
An attempt to
vote in the name of the patient without specific authorization is illegal.
RIGHTS TO VOTING
ASSISTANCE
Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of physical, visual, hearing impairment or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or officer or agent of the voter's union (42 United States Code 1973aa-6).
This Factsheet is intended for informational purposes only
and should not be used as an authority on the
Office of Elections
Phone: 808-453-VOTE(8683)
TTY: 808-453-6150
Internet: www.hawaii.gov/elections
Office of Elections - FSVS524D
rev.
12/08/03