Voting absentee allows voters to more carefully consider who and what is on their ballots. They can consult friends and family and go online.

For those who still cherish the tradition of walking into a voting booth on Election Day or during early voting, that option would still exist at various voter service centers. The centers would also offer same-day registration and voting.

Finally, HB 2541 calls for the Office of Elections to keep the legislature appraised of how the new system works, so any kinks could be worked out.

As a group called Modern Elections Hawaii argues, “the people are the power,” and the best way to keep it that way is “by diminishing barriers to participation and increasing voter turnout.”

The group, which includes Common Cause Hawaii and the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, has this to say as well: “As the state with the lowest voter turnout, we ask that you join us as we work to accomplish this goal and bring Hawaiʻi’s elections into the 21st century.”

We wholeheartedly agree, and hope the 76 men and women of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature do as well. Voters will be watching.