No Vote, No Grumble: Becoming an Informed Hawai‘i Voter

Election season is underway, and Hawai‘i voters will soon be receiving their primary election ballots. But before marking a ballot, how can voters move beyond campaign signs, polished commercials, social media claims, and endorsements to determine what candidates truly believe—and what they are likely to do once elected?

In this episode of Faith and Family First, Eva Andrade and Marcus Oshiro offer practical guidance for becoming an informed voter. They discuss how to examine a candidate’s background, public record, priorities, endorsements, donors, temperament, and ability to accomplish campaign promises. They also explain the purpose of the Hawaii Family Forum Voter Guide, why every candidate receives the same questions, and why HFF provides information rather than endorsing candidates.

Eva and Marcus then examine Hawai‘i’s troubling voter-turnout numbers. Although voter registration has increased and voting has become more accessible, hundreds of thousands of registered voters still fail to participate. In some elections, nearly as many—or even more—registered voters stayed home than cast a ballot.

They also touch on current questions surrounding mail ballots, election procedures, ballot security, federal election-law inquiries, and the need for greater public understanding of Hawai‘i’s vote-by-mail system.

The challenge is simple: do not wait until your ballot arrives to begin learning. Visit candidate websites, review voting records, read trusted voter guides, compare positions, ask questions, pray for wisdom—and vote.

As Marcus puts it: “No vote, no grumble.”

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