Good for Maine! Very wise indeed! Hopefully we will step up here.

Here in Hawaii, we actually make it very easy to vote, with early walk-in voting. That's usually when I vote. For a week before the election, any voter can stop by the early voting room, fill out a short form, and vote on a convenient day and time. We also have mail-in voting, and in person voting on voting day. Of course, if voting day comes and the surf is up or there's a party on the beach, that takes precedence for many.

Where we do lack, is in presenting a sample ballot easily accessible AND a voter guide, with a profile of the candidates and description of bills. Every election, I need to hunt and search for the sample ballot for my precinct. There is virtually no information on the candidates or issues.

Many of the residents of Hawaii are poor and work several jobs to make ends meet. They likely don't feel any vote on their part will affect their lives in any way. Plus, we already have a democratic majority in our state, so they may feel their issues are being addressed as best as can be, without their involvement at the polls.

This year might be different. With news reports of ICE quietly taking away long standing citizens and business owners, who have been paying taxes for decades, but don't have citizenship papers, and women's issues being at the forefront. Regular citizens might find value in adding their votes to the numbers in a blue wave. I'm hoping so!