Ballots have arrived in Hawaii voters’ mailboxes. Now it’s decision time.
The island’s primary ballot includes countywide nonpartisan races for mayor and prosecutor, as well as statewide nonpartisan races for four of the nine seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees. Voters will also choose their district County Council member in those nine nonpartisan races.
On the flip side, there are races where voters will pick which candidate in their party will proceed to the general election. Those races include Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District seat, state House and possibly state Senate seats, depending on which Senate district the voter lives in. Voters must select which party they’re voting in and vote only for candidates in that party.
This is Hawaii’s first all-mail election, with ballots mailed to every registered voter. But there are several options for getting the ballot back to the county.
The Elections Division is encouraging all voters to vote on their mail ballot and mail it in no later than two to three days before Aug. 8, Election Day. Voters can check whether on their ballot has been received at https://ballotstatus.hawaii.gov
Starting Monday, voters can use voter service centers at Aupuni Center and the West Hawaii Civic Center. The centers provide accessible in-person voting, same day voter registration and collection of voted ballots. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday through Aug. 7. On Aug. 8, the centers will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Places of deposit — also known as dropoff boxes — have also been established for voters to drop off their voted mail ballot packet to be collected by the county Elections Division. These boxes will be opened Aug. 3 and remain open 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. Aug. 8.
Locations of drop boxes: Hawaii County building in Hilo, Naalehu police station, Pahoa police station, Rodney Yano Hall in Captain Cook, Waimea police station and the West Hawaii Civic Center.