Vote in Election 2022!

It’s important to Vote!

Find your polling place here:  https://olvr.hawaii.gov

Register to Vote Absentee: Application here!

 

NEXT SCHEDULED ELECTIONS

  • Primary Election 2022, August 13, 2022
  • General Election 2022, November 8, 2022

Voter Registration Applications

Register to Vote – Online Voter Registration (OLVR)

Announcements
Hawaii Votes by Mail since 2020 (Act 136 SLH 2019)

In 2020, Hawaii began a Vote By Mail election system. Traditional Election Day polling places are no longer available.

Click on the Tabs below for information. 

Register to Vote / Vote by Mail

Register Online here

Voter Registration / Permanent Absentee Form

Seasonal Absentee Form “One Time Use”

How do I know if I’m registered?

Check with the Office of Elections at (808) 453-8683, or visit  https://olvr.hawaii.gov/

WHO CAN VOTE?

Can I vote in Hawai‘i?

  • So long as you are properly registered to vote;
  • You are a U.S. citizen and resident of Hawaii;
  • You are over the age of 18.

What if I’m nearly 18?

Hawai‘i law allows qualified individuals to pre-register at sixteen (16) years of age. Upon reaching eighteen (18) years of age, they will be automatically registered.

What if I’ve been convicted of a crime?

You cannot vote if you are currently serving a prison sentence for a felony conviction.

You can vote:

  • If you have been charged with a felony crime and are out on bail, but have not yet been convicted;
  • If you are an incarcerated pre-trial detainee;
  • If you are on parole or probation for a felony conviction. You regain your right to vote as soon as you complete your jail or prison sentence, but you still must (re)register;
  • If you are currently incarcerated for a misdemeanor conviction.

What if I don’t have an address?

You can vote even if you don’t have a fixed address. See information here: acluhaii.org

What if I’ve moved or changed my name?

If you moved or changed your name since the last time you voted, you must re-register. However, you may still be able to vote on the day of the election – check in with the Voter Assistance Official at your precinct.

WHEN TO VOTE?

Early Voting

Early Walk-In Voting/Late Registration

Any person registered to vote may cast an absentee ballot. You can vote early by mail or by walk-in.

If you cannot vote at your polling place for any reason or you will be absent from the State of Hawaii on election day, you may vote using an absentee ballot.

You may also vote at an absentee walk-in polling place before election day.

How:

Absentee walk-in polling places are located at the offices of the city or county clerk where you reside, and are open beginning the Tuesday, 14 days before the election, and ending the Saturday before the election.  Click here to find out when and where to go. And don’t forget to bring your ID!

To vote absentee by mail before Election Day, you must complete an application for an absentee ballot and return it your city or county clerk by 4:30pm on the Tuesday before the election.  This will ensure that you receive your ballot in time to vote and return it before Election Day.

ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
 August 1, 2022 – Primary October 27, 2022 – General
ABSENTEE VOTING BY WALK-IN
Day of Election

Election Day Voting Hours 

Polls are open from: 7:00am to 6:00pm However, anyone in line at 6:00 pm will be allowed to vote.

Contact the State Office of Elections for more information. If you see something that isn’t clear or can be improved please politely take the time to reach out and communicate. These people work for us. It’s up to all of us to improve our quality of life.  Click here to learn more about absentee voting.

Can I take time off from work to vote?

Employees may leave work for a maximum of 2 hours to vote, but only if the employee is not able to arrange to vote before or after a scheduled shift.

WHERE TO VOTE?

Look for a yellow card in the mail! Registered voters will be notified of their polling location via a Notice of Voter Registration and Address Confirmation (NVRAC) card with your polling place located on it sent by the County Clerk. You may not vote at another polling location, but you may drop off an absentee ballot at any polling location.

If you did not receive an NVRAC card with your polling location, you may not be properly registered and you should contact the Office of Elections.

What if I have a disability and my polling place is not accessible?

Polling locations strive to be accessible to all voters, and measures are taken to ensure that a variety of disability accommodations are available.

  • You may bring a helper of your choice to the polling location with you;
  • You can submit an absentee ballot by mail;
  • Most polling places are set up to allow curbside voting for persons with disabilities. To request this, please honk your horn when you drive up.

If you have any concerns about disability accommodations, contact the Office of Elections.

Can I get a ballot in my native language?

Ballots are available in English, and other languages, including Japanese, Chinese, and Ilocano. Check with the Office of Elections for details. You may bring a person of your choice into the polling booth with you to help you with translation.

What if I need help in the voting booth?

Any voter may bring any helper in the polling booth with them, with the exception of their employer, agent of their employer union. Poll workers may provide assistance in the polling booth, provided that there are 2 poll workers present and the poll workers are not of the same political affiliation.

How do I find out more about the candidates?

Check back here for more updates, check here for Endorsements.

Visit candidate websites, attend candidate debates and fora, and see if organizations you support also do any candidate assessments or make any endorsements (the ACLU of Hawai‘i is non-partisan and never endorses candidates).

Call the Office of Elections at 808-453-VOTE (8683) to find out where to vote.

Contact the State Office of Elections for more information.

MORE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW!

All voters must present a form of photo identification with a signature – whether you vote early or on Election Day.

Do I have to show photo ID?

NO, so long as you are properly registered to vote and have voted in the past. If you don’t have photo or other identification, you will be asked your birthday and residence address (or area if you do not have an address) to corroborate the information provided in the poll book. If a poll worker is unfamiliar with this process and tries to stop you from voting because you do not have a photo ID, ask to speak with a Voter Assistance Official. If that person is unable or unwilling to help you, ask them to contact the Office of Elections hotline.

Note: If you registered to vote for the first time in Hawaii and did so by mail, you will be required to provide proof of identification on Election Day. Proof of identification includes a copy of:

    • A current and valid photo identification
    • A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address.

ENSURING VOTING ACCESS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE

  • You have the right to vote even if you cannot provide photo identification or if you have multiple forms of ID with different gender designations. If you don’t have photo or other identification, you will be asked your birthday and residence address to corroborate the information provided in the poll book.
  • You should be treated with respect and courtesy at the polling place by poll workers – NO questions about your gender expression, body, or medical treatment are ever appropriate. Remember, poll workers’ only job is to ensure that the person presenting themselves to vote is the registered voter in their records.
  • So long as you are properly registered to vote, you cannot be denied a ballot because the poll worker does not believe that your name, dress or appearance “match” the gender listed on your ID.

Contact the State Office of Elections for more information.

From the ACLU Hawaii,

In a democratic nation, voting is a right, not a privilege! Attempts to suppress voters’ rights, often through discriminatory practices, have made it all the more important for us all to know and demand our right to vote!

Vote to empower yourself, your family and your community. Vote so that the needs of your community are addressed by those in office. Vote because your voice is important and deserves to be heard.

As a Hawai‘i resident, you have the right to:

  • Vote, either in person or through an absentee ballot, as long as you are properly registered;
  • Vote without providing a driver’s license or other government-issued identification card (unless you are a first-time voter who did not show I.D. while registering);
  • Vote for anyone you want, no matter what – no one has the right to coerce, manipulate, or force your vote! You have the right to make your own voting decisions.
  • Get another ballot if you make a mistake;
  • Vote in secret – you don’t have to tell or show anyone who or what you vote for or what political party you belong to. Again, the exception to this is in the Primary Election, you must select one political party on your ballot and vote within that party.
  • Be provided with appropriate accommodation at the polls if you are disabled. If you wish, you may bring someone with you in the polling booth to assist;
  • Vote by absentee ballot if you meet the registration deadline;
  • Challenge another person’s right to vote on the basis of identity and/or residency;
  • Leave work for a maximum of 2 hours for the sole purpose of voting on Election Day – only if it is not possible for you to vote before or after your scheduled shift;
  • Challenge decisions of the county clerk or precinct official;
  • Register and vote if you are homeless – As long as you meet the requirements to vote (U.S. citizen, Hawai‘i resident, over 18) – your housing status does not affect your right to vote. You may register and vote whether homeless, permanently or temporarily housed, or if you are living in a shelter, halfway house, or any other non-permanent housing.
  • If you have questions about sign-waving and other free speech activities, please visit our First Amendment Toolkit.

Information provided by State of Hawaii Office of Elections and ACLUHI.org.