Question: If I need physical help to cast a ballot due to disability, is that allowed?
Answer: Yes. A voter with a disability may choose to seek assistance from a worker at the polling place or bring someone with them to help cast a ballot, as long as the aide is not the voter’s employer or union representative, according to the American Association of People With Disabilities. Voters with disabilities also have the right to vote privately and independently, so it is up to you to ask for assistance, not for poll workers to assume that you need help.
The AAPD wants more people with disabilities to participate in elections, as voters and as candidates. Read about resources that should be available at polling places, as well as voter registration tools and other information, at 808ne.ws/aapdvote.
Q: How many “dreamers” are there here?
A: About 2,000 people in Hawaii are eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, according to the state attorney general. Nationwide about 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children have been granted DACA status, preventing them from being deported, after they passed background checks. The program began in 2012 but faces an uncertain future.
Q: Will they shred documents at the “Scam Jam” (808ne.ws/sa726)?
A: No. Scam Jam workshops teach participants how to avoid financial scams, whether con artists are calling on the phone or sending text messages, email or snail mail. We believe you’ve confused the upcoming Scam Jam with “Shred Fest,” a different program also sponsored by AARP Hawaii; it provides free shredding of personal documents and was last held in April.
Scam Jam workshops are scheduled on Oahu, Hawaii island, Maui and Kauai through Aug. 12. The events are free, but participants should preregister at bit.ly/aarpHIevents or by calling 877-926-8300, according to the AARP.
Attendees will learn how to spot common scams, what to do if they are targeted, and personality traits that fraud victims typically share.
The workshops are sponsored by AARP Hawaii, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and other partners.
Here is the schedule, by island:
>> Oahu
Aug. 9: 9 to 11:30 a.m.; Hawaii United Okinawa Center, 94-587 Ukee St., Waipahu
Aug. 11: 9:30 a.m. to noon; Japanese Cultural Center; Manoa Grand Ballroom; 2454 S. Beretania St.
>> Maui
Aug. 9: 5 to 7:30 p.m.; J. Walter Cameron Center Auditorium, 95 Mahalani St., Wailuku
>> Kauai
Aug. 10: 9:30 a.m. to noon; Courtyard Marriott Kauai at Coconut Beach, Paddle Room, 650 Aleka Loop, Kapaa
>> Hawaii island
Aug. 12: 9 to 11:30 a.m.; Church of the Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikaula St., Hilo
Aug. 12: 5 to 7:30 p.m.; West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kona
Auwe
I was driving in the right lane on the H-3, leading a friend in a rental car back to the airport. A van was tailgating her most of the way down the hill, pulling halfway out of the lane onto the shoulder so she could “see” the van. … Really sad that someone feels the need to regulate the speed that another person is driving her car! — J.M.
Mahalo
We have read about this several times in the newspaper. It finally happened to us while having breakfast at Zippy’s in Waipio Gentry on July 19. When asking the waitress for our tab, we were surprised to hear that our breakfast had already been paid for. Much mahalo to the lovely Hawaiian lady who was seated two booths down from us. We didn’t get her name, but we did get to personally thank her on our way out. The aloha spirit continues. We now have the torch and will pass it on with great pride! — The Three Maui Boys
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
