While controversial issues like pay raises for legislators, highway financing and legalizing cannabis dominate the legislative spotlight, important systemic changes to the way our democracy works (or not) are at risk of falling to the wayside.

With citizen cynicism at a high, and voter turnout at a corresponding low, the time is now to enact key reforms expanding voter participation and strengthening the democratic process.

House Bill 1380 creates a comprehensive public funding program for county elections. This measure needs to be expanded, strengthened and passed.

House Bill 1248 expands voting by mail for all elections. It only makes sense.

Senate Bill 412 and House Bill 1217 minimize the inconvenience of voter registration by automatically registering residents qualified to vote, upon receiving or renewing their Hawaii drivers license. This low-cost, easy-to-make change has already been proven in other states.

Do these three things, and democracy will grow.

Gary Hooser

Kapaa, Kauai

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