How to Vote in Hawai‘i’s 2024 Elections

En español

• State primary: Saturday, Aug. 10
• General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

State primary 

• Mail-in voting: Every registered voter in Hawai‘i automatically receives a ballot in the mail.

• Early voting: Cast your ballot at any voter service center in your county from Monday, July 29, through Saturday, Aug. 10.

• Voting at the polls: Hawai‘i votes mostly by mail, but some voter service centers are open on Election Day for walk-in voting and same-day registration.

A 2022 redistricting plan changed the boundaries of U.S. congressional and some legislative districts, and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot. Check the state election website for more information.

• By mail: Complete a voter registration application and send it to your county elections division by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, for the state primary. Applications must be postmarked by July 31. If you can’t download the application, call the state Office of Elections at 808-453-8683 or email elections@hawaii.gov to request a paper copy. You can also pick up an application at U.S. post offices, state libraries and most state agencies. 

• In person: Visit a voter service center where you can register or update your registration and then vote on the same day for the state primary. Check the state elections website starting in May for locations and hours. Or go to your county elections division or the state Office of Elections to register. You can also register to vote when completing an application for a driver’s license or state ID at the Department of Motor Vehicles or when applying for certain public assistance programs.

• Online: Sign in to Hawai‘i’s online voter registration system. You must have a Hawai‘i driver’s license or state ID card and a Social Security number to access the system. You can register online at any time before or on Saturday, Aug.10.

If you don’t have a Hawai‘i driver’s license, state ID card or a Social Security number, you can still register to vote by mail or in person, although first-time voters registering by mail without these must provide proof of identification. Acceptable proof of identification includes a current photo ID card or a current bank statement, utility bill, paycheck or government document showing your name and address.

County elections divisions will mail notices of voter registration to voters prior to the primary.

Maui voters affected by the 2023 wildfires should update their voter registration information with their current mailing address to ensure they receive a ballot.

You can register to vote at a voter service center on Saturday, Aug. 10, for the state primary. Check the state elections website starting in May for locations and hours of voter service centers. ID is not required, but state elections officials encourage you to bring identification because it might speed up the registration process.

For the state primary, voters will receive a ballot with candidates from all political parties on it. Voters must choose a political party preference and may cast votes only for candidates from that party. If you vote for candidates from different parties, your vote will not count.

Every registered voter will automatically receive a mail ballot in the mail no later than Tuesday, July 23, for the state primary. If you do not receive your ballot, contact your county elections division.

If you are temporarily away from home and need your ballot sent to a different mailing address, you can submit an absentee ballot application by mail or in person to have a ballot sent to a different address by Saturday, Aug. 3.

• By mail: Download a copy of the application. You also can call the state Office of Elections at 808-453-8683 or email elections@hawaii.gov to request a mailed copy of the application.

• In person: Visit your county elections division to drop off or complete an application. 

Complete your mail or absentee ballot for the state primary and sign your return envelope. Election officials will verify your signature against the signature on file with your voter registration. If a ballot is returned without a signature, you will be contacted to correct this. A ballot cannot be counted without your signature on the return envelope.

Once you receive and complete your ballot, you can return it by mail or in person.

• By mail: Send it to your county elections division using the prepaid, preaddressed envelope included in your ballot packet. Ballots must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, for the state primary.

• In person: Return it to a voter service center in your county by 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, for the state primary. Locations can be found at the state elections website in May.

• Drop box: Locations can be found at the state elections website in May.
  

Sign up at BallotTrax or contact your county elections division to check on the status of your ballot. If there is a problem with your ballot, such as a signature that doesn’t match the one associated with your voter registration record, BallotTrax will notify you that there was an issue processing your ballot. Contact your county elections division to correct the issue. You also will be contacted by your county elections division and be given up to five days to make a correction.

Voter service centers will be open starting Monday, July 29, for same-day registration, accessible voting and for those who prefer to vote in person for the state primary. Check the state elections website starting in May for locations and hours.

Because Hawai‘i’s elections are mostly by mail, no precinct polling places will be open for the state primary, but some voter service centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check the state elections website starting in May for available locations.

Identification is not required at voter service centers for the state primary, but state officials encourage you to bring ID so that the check-in process goes faster.

If you’re a state primary voter with special needs, you can request an electronic ballot on your voter registration or absentee application or by contacting your county elections division.

State primary voters may also use accessible voting equipment at voter service centers. More information is available on the state elections website.

Key races:

• U.S. President
• U.S. House: two seats
• U.S. Senate: one seat
• State House: 51 seats 
• State Senate: 13 seats  

Sample ballots will be available at the state elections website.

Editor’s note: This guide was originally published Jan. 29, 2024, and has been updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.

Maura Kelly Lannan is a writer, editor and producer for AARP who covers federal and state policy. She has worked as a reporter for the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Waterbury, Connecticut, Republican-American. She also has written for Bloomberg Government, The Boston Globe and other publications. 

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