The State of Hawaii passed Act 136, SLH 2019, implementing elections by mail beginning with the 2020 Elections. The 2020 Primary Election will be the first statewide election conducted by mail and no traditional polling places will be opened. Instead, all voters will automatically receive a ballot in the mail.
Keep Your Voter Registration Record Up to Date: Ballots are mailed to the voter’s mailing address associated with their voter registration record. Voters who have moved, changed their name or mailing address, must update their voter registration. Voters may check online or call their Clerk’s Office to confirm that their voter registration is current. If you do not receive a signature capture card in the mail, check your voter registration online at olvr.hawaii.gov or by contacting the Office of Elections. For more information about elections by mail, contact the Office of Elections at (808) 453-VOTE (8683) or elections@hawaii.gov.
Not yet registered? Register online at www.elections.hawaii.gov or complete a Voter Registration Application and submit it to your Clerk’s Office.
Receiving Your Ballot: All properly registered voters will receive a mail ballot packet approximately 18 days prior to the election. (ON OR AFTER JULY 21, 2020)
Returning Your Ballot: Voters may return their ballot by mail or in-person at a designated place of deposit. Voted ballots must be received by the Clerk’s Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
SIGN, SEALED, AND COUNTED – SECURING YOUR VOTE
Processing Your Ballot: Upon receipt of your return envelope, the Clerk’s Office conducts a signature validation. After your signature is validated your ballot will be forwarded to State Election Officials to be counted. (You should have received an election mailing in April asking for a current sample of your signature.) If there is no signature on the return envelope or it does not match your record, the County Elections Division will notify you and you will have up to 5 business days after the election to correct it in order for your ballot to be counted.
Voter Service Centers: The Clerk’s Office establish voter service centers that will be open 10 days prior to each election. Voters may visit any service center within their county should they prefer to vote in person. Additionally, the service center will provide accessible voting and same day registration. See elections.hawaii.gov for voter service centers locations.