Ready to cast a ballot, but not sure where to go? Here’s the scoop on absentee voting, walk-in absentee sites and how to track down even more information. Ready to cast a ballot, but not sure where to go? Here’s
Ready to cast a ballot, but not sure where to go? Here’s the scoop on absentee voting, walk-in absentee sites and how to track down even more information.
When to vote
Hawaii’s primary election is Aug. 11. In partisan races (U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, state Senate and state House), voters will be asked to select candidates only from one political party. Hawaii County races — for mayor, for prosecuting attorney and for County Council — are nonpartisan races. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election has already passed.
The deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot for the primary election is Aug. 4. Ballots must be returned to the County Clerk by election day. Any voter may cast a ballot by walk-in absentee voting between Monday and Aug. 9. Walk-in voting locations are: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at the West Hawaii Civic Center’s Community Room in Building G, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Waimea, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hilo’s Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., which was formerly Firestone.
On Aug. 11, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The general election is Nov. 6. Voters may request absentee mail ballots Sept. 7 through Oct. 30. Oct. 8 is the last day to register to vote for the general election. Walk-in absentee voting for the general election begins Oct. 23 and ends Nov. 3, with the same voting locations and hours as are available during the primary election.
On Nov. 6, polling places will again be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The state Elections Office has a polling place locator on its website, hawaii.gov/elections. Click on the 2012 Polling Place Locator link, then click Search, in the upper right hand corner of the page, beneath a magnifying glass icon. Type in the voter’s home address, including the city and zip code. The search results will be included at the bottom of the page, with an option to scroll to the right to see more information. A sample ballot for that precinct will be available to be downloaded, and pictures of the polling place are also available, to help voters better locate the precinct.
Public libraries have computers with internet access for voters who cannot access the state Elections Office website from home.
Anyone with any other questions about voting may contact the county’s Election Offices at 323-4400 in Kona or 961-8277 in Hilo.
