FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             December 18, 2006

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD ELECTIONS

            The City reminds people living on Oahu that anyone over 18, including non-resident military and non-citizens, may register to vote in the Neighborhood Board elections, which will be held in March 2007.

            All Oahu residents registered to vote in the 2006 statewide elections are automatically registered to vote in the 2007 Neighborhood Board elections.  In addition, anyone who is 18 years old by January 16, 2007 and who is not automatically registered, including non-citizen residents and non-resident military personnel and their dependents is also allowed to register to vote in the Neighborhood Board elections. Eligible residents who have moved since the 2006 elections should also submit one of these forms.

Voter registration forms are available at the City Clerk’s Office and the Neighborhood Commission Office at Honolulu Hale, the Neighborhood Commission Office at Kapolei Hale and all satellite city halls. The form can also be downloaded from the following website:

http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/2007_voter_reg_form.pdf

            Voter Registration forms must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Neighborhood Commission Office at Honolulu Hale, 530 South King Street, by January 16, 2007.

            Elections for all 444 seats on Oahu’s 32 neighborhood boards are held in odd-numbered years. The two-year terms of office start in June. Members are elected from the respective neighborhoods.

            The neighborhood boards are governed by the nine-member Neighborhood Commission. The top administrator is the executive secretary, Joan Manke.

            “The Neighborhood Board election process gives all residents, including non-citizens, a chance to participate in grassroots democracy,” said Manke. “The residents elected to serve on the Neighborhood Boards will be charged with communicating the needs and wishes of their communities to the various levels of government over the next two years, so it is very important that those elected truly reflect the needs of the community. High voter participation is the only way to assure that residents’ voices are heard.”

            For more information, see the Neighborhood Commission website, www.honolulu.gov/nco or call 527-5749.

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Contact:        

            Joan Manke, Neighborhood Commission Executive Secretary, 527-5749       

            Bryan K Mick, Neighborhood Commission Office, 523-4768