The city's program to boost participation in Neighborhood Board elections through online voting shows potential.

But for this election year — candidate applications are due Tuesday, and voting concludes by April 16 — there are too many wrinkles to be ironed out before voting begins in early March.

For the first time, the commission is piloting an online voting system, having grown discouraged by low voter participation. In spring 2005, ballots went out to a list of O'ahu residents who had voted in the previous election — about two-thirds of eligible voters.

Only 25 percent of those ballots came back, according to commission staff.

Everyone agrees this is dismal, so a strategy to improve the return deserves support — especially one that has potential of saving money.

The commission reviewed reports from other organizations and agencies that had tried online voting, and had seen participation improve. And the commission is opening some of its application process to e-mail to make candidacy easier.

Although this effort may ultimately pay off, it might have been smarter to postpone it one election cycle.

Also, those who do not feel comfortable with Web voting may find it harder. Instead of finding a ballot in their mail, they will have to request one.

Time is short, but the commission should use advertising or other outreach methods to raise voter awareness.

It would be a shame if, in the process of increasing participation for some, others are left out in the cold.