Are you registered to vote?
If not, time is running out to become registered for Hawaii’s Aug. 8 primary election. For the first time, the state of Hawaii will be conducting an election almost exclusively by mail, with no traditional polling places to be established.
The deadline to register for a mail-in ballot is today. Residents looking to become registered can stop by one of three locations on the Big Island — Safeway in Kailua-Kona, 744 Kamehameha Ave. in Hilo and Malama Market in Pahoa – from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., where election officials and the League of Women Voters are holding drive-through registrations.
Today is the second consecutive day the League of Women Voters has set up a voter registration drive at these locations; the organization’s officials noted an increase in recent activity, particularly among first-time voters.
“There’s a tremendous amount of energy, especially from our younger generations,” said Nina Eejima, Vice President of Hawaii County’s League of Women Voters. “The past couple of months, we’ve seen a lot of new energy and enthusiasm for participating in the voting process.”
New voters can register either in person at any of the three locations or online at elections.hawaii.gov. Anyone registering online must have a valid Hawaii driver’s license or Hawaii State ID; those without either will have to fill out a paper application in person. All voters must register with a physical mailing address — not a PO box — to demonstrate residence and to determine which districts they’re voting in.
While the process of registration has not changed from previous years, the Vice President of the State of Hawaii’s League of Women Voters Donna Oba noted many people have been asking questions about the state’s first election to be held primarily by mail.
“We’re making sure they understand they should be getting a ballot by July 21,” said Oba. “We’re urging people to mail in their ballots early because they have to be received by Aug. 8, not postmarked.”
Hawaii residents who miss today’s deadline will still be able still register and vote in the primary election. Voter service centers will be open to in-person votes from July 27 until 7 p.m. on Aug. 8 for those who missed the mail-in deadline and voters with special needs. The Big Island is home to two voter service centers: the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona and the County of Hawaii Aupuni Center in Hilo.
Eejima encourages anyone with questions about Hawaii’s primary election to visit vote411.org/hawaii for information on registration, voting, ballots and more.
“There’s a very different perspective now since the resurgence of social and political activism has taken hold,” said Eejima. “It’s a really exciting time to see democracy in action.”