The state Office of Elections was “absurdly out of touch” with the situation in Puna after Tropical Storm Iselle, state Sen. Russell Ruderman said Tuesday afternoon. Ruderman was speaking to County Clerk Stewart Maeda and the County Council’s Public Safety and Mass Transit Committee in Hilo, as they addressed the primary election situation. South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Brenda Ford asked Maeda for an update on Maeda’s plans for the upcoming General Election, particularly for Puna, where Pahoa is threatened by a lava flow. “What’s inexcusable to me was the change in decision (from the plan to mail absentee ballots to voters in two Puna precincts closed following the storm),” Ruderman said. “To change that after having officially notified everyone who made their way to the polling place. We gave people a change in official notification, (with just) three days’ notice. … That’s not fair. I can’t believe that it’s legal.” Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille asked why the entire election results weren’t thrown out. “I’m not aware of any remaining remedy, except from the federal Department of Justice, which is aware of our complaints,” Ruderman said.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:00:01 +0000
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