Hawaii elections: Here are important dates and a voter's guide to 2024
Hawaii’s upcoming legislative session is fast approaching as are the 2024 elections. In just a couple of months, local residents will elect their next generation of leaders at the local, county, state and national levels.
Hawaii residents should make sure that they are registered to vote and are up-to-date for the election season.
Here are a few tips and important dates to add to your calendar.
2024 election dates to remember in Hawaii
July 23: Voters begin to receive their primary election mail ballot packets at least 18 days before the election. Places of deposit, or drop boxes to return ballots, may open as soon as ballots are mailed out.
July 29: Voter service centers open, providing in-person voting, accessible voting and same-day registration.
July 31: The last day to submit paper voter registration applications for the primary election.
Aug. 3: The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the primary election. Registered voters who are away from their Hawaii residence must submit an absentee application to an alternate mailing address. The County Elections Division must receive those applications by this date.
Aug. 10: Primary Election Day. Ballots must reach the County Elections Division by 7 p.m. in order to be counted. Voter service centers and places of deposit close.
Aug. 19: The deadline for voters to cure their ballots with the County Elections Division.
Oct. 18: Voters start receiving their general election mail ballot packet at least 18 days before the election. Places of deposit may open as soon as the ballots are mailed out.
Oct. 22: Voter service centers open, providing in-person voting, accessible voting and same-day registration.
Oct. 28: The last day to submit paper voter registration applications for the general election.
Oct. 29: The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the general election. Registered voters who are away from their Hawaii residence must submit an absentee application to an alternate mailing address. The County Elections Division must receive those applications by this date.
Nov. 5: General Election Day. Ballots must reach the County Elections Division by 7 p.m. in order to be counted. Voter service centers and places of deposit close.
Nov. 13: The deadline for voters to cure their ballots with the County Elections Division.
To view Hawaii's full election calendar, click here.
How can I vote in Hawaii?
Hawaii is among eight states nationwide with universal mail-in voting. Every eligible voter receives a mail ballot at least 18 days before each election. To make sure that your vote will count, your ballot must be submitted to your city or county clerk at least 7 days before the election.
Alternatively, voters have the option to personally submit their mail ballots. That can happen by visiting a designated place of deposit or voter service center in your county. Those centers are operational for 10 days leading up to Election Day and also facilitate in-person voting. Their locations can be found on your county's website.
Those voting by mail do not need an ID, but the signature on your mail-in ballot must match the signature on file with the state.
Voting in person also doesn't require an ID, but it's recommended to bring one for a smoother check-in process. If you choose to show ID, acceptable options include an unexpired photo ID such as a Hawaii driver’s license, a state ID card, a military ID card, or a U.S. passport.
If you don't have an ID, you may be asked to provide additional information to confirm your identity.
How do I register to vote in Hawaii?
To register to vote, submit an application to your Country Elections Division by 4:30 p.m. on the 10th day before an election.
Residents also have the option to register on the same day as an election. You can register online here or register at a voter service center and submit a ballot there.
Once registered, voters don’t need to re-register for another election unless your residence address, mailing address or name changes.
Can I track my ballot?
Voters can virtually check the status of their mail-in ballot by signing up for BallotTrax.
Who’s eligible to vote in Hawaii?
People registering to vote will be asked for their Social Security number along with their Hawaii driver's license or their Hawaii state ID card. To register, you must be:
A United States citizen.
A legal resident of Hawaii.
16 years or older, but you must be at least 18 on the day of the election to vote.
Does party affiliation matter when voting in the primary election?
Yes. Voters aren't required to declare a party affiliation when registering, but they must select a party affiliation on their primary election ballot. This choice determines the party of the candidates they can vote for in that election.
Voters, regardless of party affiliation, can participate in the primary election for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and county contests.
What elections are taking place?
Federal Offices:
U.S. President and Vice President: one per office, four-year term.
U.S. Senate: one seat, six-year term.
U.S. House of Representatives: two seats, Hawaii's 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts, two-year terms.
State Offices:
State Senate: 12 seats, Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, four-year terms.
State House of Representatives: 51 seats, Districts 1–51, two-year terms.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee: four seats, At-Large, Resident of Hawaii, Resident of Molokai, Resident of Kauai, four-year terms.
County of Hawaii:
Mayor: one seat, County of Hawaii, four-year term.
Prosecuting Attorney: one seat, County of Hawaii, four-year term.
Councilmember: nine seats, Districts 1–9, two-year term.
County of Maui:
Councilmember: nine seats, Districts East Maui, West Maui, Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu, Kahului, South Maui, Makawao-Haiku-Paia, Upcountry, Lanai, Molokai, two-year terms.
County of Kauai:
Prosecuting Attorney: one seat, County of Kauai, four-year term.
Councilmember: seven seats, County of Kauai, two-year term.
City and County of Honolulu:
Mayor: one seat, City and County of Honolulu, four-year term.
Prosecuting Attorney: one seat, City and County of Honolulu, four-year term.
Councilmember: five seats, Districts I, III, V, VII, and IX, four-year terms.
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA Today Network. Reach him at jeremy.yurow@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hawaii election 2024: Here are the key dates and deadlines
