Save Kauai brings together current information about Kauai and web-based tools that allow you to take action. If we want to affect the future of Kauai in a pono way we must organize and begin implementing solutions, not just fighting the problems.
Aloha 'Aina, Imua Kakou!
On the agenda is a resolution by council-woman Iseri-Carvalho to change the charter.
The resolution would require that for a charter amendment to be approved by the voters, the amendment would have to receive 50% of all of the votes cast at the election (rather than 50% of the votes cast on the question). I.e., blank votes on the amendment would be counted as "no" votes. So voters who choose to not have an opinion on a particular matter would have their votes interpreted at "No" votes!
There is also ambiguous language regarding the need for the majority to equal at least 30% of the registered voters. This could be interpreted to mean that there must be a minimum of 60% voter turnout for the election results to be valid. (In order to meet the 30% criterion, in a close race, at least 60% of the voters would have to vote on the matter; otherwise getting 50% of the votes would be less than the 30% criterion.)
Regardless of whether or not this proposal (if it is placed on the ballot and is approved in November) would be applicable to the CRG Charter Amendment, this proposal appears to be a big impediment to future changes to the charter, regardless of whether the amendment were initiated by voter petition or by the Charter Commission.