Hawaii conducts elections primarily by mail. Every registered voter receives a ballot at home, and you can return it by mail, at a drop box, or at a voter service center. This guide covers how to register, what to expect on your ballot, and key dates to know.
Already registered? You can check your registration status, update your address, and view your sample ballot at olvr.hawaii.gov.
How to register to vote
You can register to vote in Hawaii if you are:
- A United States citizen
- A resident of Hawaii
- At least 18 years old by Election Day (you can register at 16 but cannot vote until you turn 18)
Register online
The fastest way to register is online at olvr.hawaii.gov — Hawaii’s Online Voter Registration system. You’ll need your Hawaii driver’s license or state ID number. The process takes about five minutes.
Register by mail or in person
- Download a voter registration form from the Office of Elections website and mail it to your county clerk
- Pick up a form at any post office, library, or county clerk’s office
- Register in person at a voter service center during early voting or on Election Day (same-day registration is available)
Registration deadlines
- Online or by mail: 30 days before Election Day
- In person: Same-day registration is available at voter service centers, including on Election Day
If you’ve moved, changed your name, or haven’t voted recently, update your registration at olvr.hawaii.gov well before an election.
How voting by mail works
Since 2020, Hawaii has been an all-mail election state. Here’s what that means for you:
- Your ballot arrives by mail — approximately 18 days before Election Day. It’s sent to the address on your voter registration.
- Review your ballot carefully — you can research candidates and measures before marking your ballot. Take your time.
- Mark your ballot — use a black pen. Fill in the oval next to your choices completely. Follow the instructions on the ballot.
- Seal and sign — place your completed ballot in the secrecy envelope, then into the return envelope. Sign the return envelope. Your signature is required — it’s checked against your voter registration, so sign the way you registered.
- Return your ballot — you have three options (see below).
How to return your ballot
- Mail it back: No stamp needed — postage is prepaid. Mail it early enough for it to arrive by Election Day. The county clerk must receive it by 7:00 PM on Election Day.
- Drop box: Official ballot drop boxes are placed at locations across each county. They’re available 24/7 during the voting period and are collected on Election Day. Find locations at elections.hawaii.gov.
- Voter service center: You can drop off your ballot at any voter service center during the early voting period or on Election Day. You can also vote in person on an electronic voting machine at these locations.
What’s on the ballot
Your ballot will include some or all of the following, depending on the election:
Federal offices
- U.S. President — every 4 years
- U.S. Senator — Hawaii has 2 senators, elected to 6-year terms
- U.S. Representative — Hawaii has 2 congressional districts
State offices
- Governor and Lieutenant Governor — every 4 years
- State Senator — your specific senate district
- State Representative — your specific house district
- Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) trustees
County offices
- Mayor
- County Council members — your specific council district
- Prosecuting Attorney
- Neighborhood Board members (Honolulu only)
Ballot measures
Some elections include ballot measures — proposed changes to the state constitution or county charter that voters decide directly. Read the explanatory text carefully. If a measure is confusing, research it before marking your ballot. You are not required to vote on every item.
Primary vs. general elections
Hawaii holds a primary election (typically in August) and a general election (in November). The primary narrows the field of candidates; the general determines who takes office. Hawaii has an open primary — you can vote in any party’s primary, but you can only vote in one party’s primary per election.
Key dates
Election dates and deadlines are set by the Office of Elections. Check elections.hawaii.gov for current year dates. General patterns:
- Primary Election: Second Saturday in August (even-numbered years)
- General Election: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November (even-numbered years)
- Special Elections: Scheduled as needed to fill vacancies
- Registration deadline (online/mail): 30 days before
- Ballots mailed: 18 days before
- Early voting centers open: 10 days before
- Ballot return deadline: 7:00 PM on Election Day
Tips for informed voting
- Check your sample ballot early. View it at olvr.hawaii.gov before your ballot arrives so you can research candidates and measures.
- Research candidates. Look at their official websites, public statements, and voting records if they’re incumbents. Nonpartisan voter guides are published by organizations like the League of Women Voters.
- Read ballot measure language carefully. A “yes” vote doesn’t always mean what you’d expect. Read the full text, not just the title.
- You don’t have to vote on every race. It’s okay to leave a race blank if you’re not informed about the candidates. An undervote doesn’t invalidate the rest of your ballot.
- Don’t wait until the last day. Return your ballot early. If something goes wrong — a signature mismatch, a damaged ballot — early return gives you time to fix it.
Beyond voting
Voting is important, but civic engagement doesn’t stop at the ballot box. Most government decisions happen between elections — at public hearings, board meetings, and public comment periods. The representatives you elect make decisions year-round, and they want to hear from you throughout their term, not just during campaigns.
Learn how to testify Write to your representatives Browse government meetings