Name: Melvin “Butch” Hollowell (D)
Age: 42
Birthplace: Honolulu
Occupation: Attorney
Family: Married to Desiree Cooper; two children
Education: Bachelor of arts degree from Albion College, 198; Law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, 1984
Political background: Has held various positions in Wayne County government
Stance on the issues:
Statewide voting system: Wants to eliminate punch card voting and advocate a statewide high-technology, optical scan system.
Pay/training for precinct workers: Wants to ensure all polls have newest technology and adequate trained personnel. Says the state needs to review the election process to make sure the administration of elections isn’t overly burdensome on the clerks.
Use of technology/Internet: Believes the Secretary of State needs to take a more proactive role in making sure voters are educated on candidates as well as how to vote. Has unveiled a voter-education and training Internet program for high school students and has traveled across the state to display the program. The program teaches basics about voting by using historical elections as examples.
Straight-ticket voting: Supports it.
Voting with the address on your license: Would work with the Legislature to overturn the bill that requires voters to vote in the precinct based on the address listed on their driver’s license.
Absentee voting: Believes election problems can be solved by counting absentee ballots before the general election. Believes this method would prove both secure and efficient. But believes polling places are valuable and should be maintained.
Office hours/lines: Says if a customer has to wait too long in line, then the customer won’t have to pay for the service. Wants to place ATM-style machines in malls to quickly provide secretary of state services. Wants to extend business hours at branches.
