It might seem as if they were like tilting at windmills, but it's comforting to know there are citizens willing to spend time and money on an effort to protect the sanctity of the vote.

Five Maui voters went to court out of concerns about the accuracy and security of voting electronically and having the results sent via the Internet to be finally tabulated. Lance Collins, a young attorney known for taking on grass-roots cases that seldom result in big paydays, represented Joy Brann, Robert Babson Jr., Ann Babson, Paula Brock and Daniel Grantham.

Collins successfully based his argument on Hawaii Revised Statute 0091, which sets a procedure for any state agency "that implements, interprets or prescribes law or policy." Basically, that means the state can't make rules and regulations affecting the public without the public knowing what and how it's being done.

The state argued the law didn't apply. Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza disagreed, ruling the Office of Elections cannot use electronic voting machines or transmit election results over the Internet or telephone lines until the new methods first have gone through administrative rule-making.

Cardoza commended the plaintiffs for their "active participation in government." Coincidentally, a computer-Internet voting system was being used to elect neighborhood board members on Oahu at the same time the ruling came down.

Brann said she wasn't against using the latest technology but wanted a backup system that would allow checking vote totals. "People need to be certain that who we elected is who will win."

The five Mauians are paying for the lawsuit out of their own pockets and could use some help. They and Collins will accept donations.

Some elections officials may consider the five concerned citizens an annoyance. They are anything but. The merits and faults of electronic voting aside, Maui can be proud it has citizens who take their civic responsibilities seriously.

* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.