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Beware of blank ballots for con con decision

By Duane Shimogawa - bio | email

HONOLULU (KHNL) - It hasn't happened in three decades, but in November, you'll get the chance to decide if Hawaii moves ahead with a constitutional convention or con con. But the way you vote is critical.

A con con takes a look at current Hawaii laws to see if anything needs to be changed or updated.

In the general election, a blank vote doesn't necessarily mean a blank vote.

It's archived in many places throughout the hawaii state library. Yet, like the con con itself, it hasn't been updated in three decades.

"I hope that we can get the word out to everyone that they understand that not voting is the same as voting no, so I certainly hope that everybody casts the ballot they want to," State Attorney General Mark Bennett said.

But some people aren't aware of that.

Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett tells us this system only happens when voting on the con con and amendments. So that's why it's important to know what to do when heading to the polls.

An unmarked ballot means no on the con con ballot. Some voters are surprised by this.

"It makes me feel as if they're putting themselves first, instead of the american people," a voter said.

Either way you choose, something most agree on is to let your voice be heard on this controversial issue.

"I think this vote which people get to take once a decade is pretty near the most important thing they'll vote on in November," Bennett said.

According to the State Elections Office, yes votes have to be 50 percent or more of the votes cast for a con con to become a reality. That's including blanks of course, which are treated as no votes in this once in a decade decision.

The last con con in 1978 laid the groundwork for the return of federal land such as the Island of Kahoolawe. It also created the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, established term limits for state office holders and provided a requirement for an annual balanced budget.