( CNN ) -- Shortly after Hawaii became a state in 1959 , more than 90 % of registered voters there participated in elections . The state , which now has the lowest voter turnout rate in the country , has a vibrant history of civic participation . It could be that way again . Here are six recommendations for how Hawaii could boost its voter turnout rate , taking into account both national and state policies , as well as individual efforts . Have a look and please offer suggestions of your own in the comments section below . ( And a special thanks to those of you who sent in ideas on the Change the List Tumblr ) . 1 . Ask five friends to vote ( seriously ) : On a recent trip to Hawaii , I met people who did n't know the presidential election would be in November ( It 's the 6th , in case that 's you ) . Others do n't identify as voters . That can all change if you invite someone to participate . Better , ask five people , or post this on five friends ' Facebook walls . It 's shocking how far these personal invitations can go . 2 . Pressure candidates to debate in public : By far the most eccentric person I met in Hawaii was Kawika Crowley , a self-described homeless candidate for a U.S. House seat . He is seen by many as a joke . His platform , for example , is anti-tax and pro-smoking ( in bars , if the owner wants to allow it ) . No matter how wacky his ideas are , or how unlikely his chances , his opponent , Tulsi Gabbard , a rising star in the Democratic party , should debate him . The Gabbard campaign said no media organizations have approached the Democratic candidate about having a debate with Crowley . `` You can stand on a street corner and have a debate but we have n't seen any media outlets come forward '' requesting one , said spokesman Jim McCoy . It likely is too late for that to happen now , with the election less than two weeks away . But a debate would have been the democratic thing to do -- even if it had to be held on YouTube . 3 . Start the move toward online elections : Young people do n't vote . That 's true nationally . It 's especially true in Hawaii , where less than half of the eligible population casts ballots -- and , in 2008 , less than a third of young people voted . There 's little if any voting culture in the state . That could change if elections came to younger people in the places they hang out : the beach ( unlikely ) , or the Internet . At the very least , voter registration should move online . It 's unclear to what degree this would boost turnout , said David Becker , from the Pew Charitable Trusts , but it 's more efficient and more accurate . 4 . Ease registration laws : Minnesota had the highest voter turnout rate in 2008 -- with nearly 80 % of eligible residents casting ballots . That 's incredible , but it could be replicated . The state 's laws -- particularly one that allows voters to register at their polling place on Election Day -- make it easy to vote . Hawaii should at least consider implementing the same . As Becker pointed out , what works in one state may not work in another . The cultures and weather in these states are clearly different . But it 's still worth a try . 5 . Encourage civics education in schools : The best way to create a new generation of voters is to educate them about why civics matter -- how their government affects their day-to-day lives and why it 's best not to check out of the system . That 's some heavy lifting . It 's happening at some Hawaii schools . I went to two -- Mililani High School and Punahou , where Barack Obama went to high school -- to see firsthand what a difference a civics-minded education can make . It 's stunning . If you talk to kids about politics and voting , they end up creating videos like this one , by Maiya Smith at Punahou , which encourages her friends to vote . It makes all the difference . 6 . Eliminate the Electoral College : Can anyone argue the Electoral College makes sense in 2012 ? It should be abolished , creating a ( for once ) truly democratic system where each vote is given the same weight in a presidential election . People in Hawaii feel their votes are less important than those in Ohio or Florida -- or any mainland state . By the time they get to the polls , winners of national elections already have been announced . Presidents have been named . Doing away with the Electoral College would ease this disconnect , making Hawaii 's votes matter as much as everyone else 's .
California has the lowest voter turnout rate in the country . CNN 's Change the List aims to increase turnout there . The new campaign is led by CNN 's John D. Novak . Here are six solutions to the state 's low civic turnout .