LWV Launches VOTE411.org Education Tool

The League of Women Voters of Hawai‘i County has launched the nonpartisan election resource www.VOTE411.org, simple tools to help the state’s residents navigate the voting process this November.

Voters are also invited to meet the mayoral candidates at Aunty Sally’s Lu‘au Hale when the League and AAUW-Hilo Branch co-sponsor a candidates’ forum Wednesday, July 27, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

VOTE411.org provides candidate information, voter registration tools, polling place locations and other helpful Election Day information.

Detailed candidate information, including candidates’ direct responses to issue-related questions, is available for offices at the county, state and national levels.

Users can visit www.VOTE411.org and enter their address to find information from the candidates they will see on their ballot.

“As voters, we need simple, helpful tools to help us navigate Election Day,” said Donna Oba, past president of the Hawai‘i County League. “This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime, and each one of us has an important role to play in weighing in on the issues and priorities that matter most for our community.”

“Vote411.org is the nation’s premiere online election resource and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii County has added our community’s information to VOTE411.org so that it can serve as a resource for all of Hawai‘i Island voters,” said Oba.

Nationally, in 2008, approximately 20 million voters found the information they needed through VOTE411.org, many of them young people and first-time voters.

Voters are encouraged to check out the site prior to both the Primary and General Elections.

“People need to understand that our Primary Elections are extremely important,” said Sue Irvine, longtime LWV member. “If a candidate gets more than 50% of the votes in our nonpartisan races for mayor, council or OHA, that person wins the entire election in the Primary without a runoff in the General Election. “

The LWV urges people to become familiar with the candidates and to vote in the Primary on Aug. 13.

“VOTE411.org is convenient, easy and empowering,” said Oba. “I’ll be sharing it with my friends and family to help them prepare for Election Day, and we know many others will, too.”

For more information about the League of Women Voters, visit www.lwv.org.