When Does Hawaii Vote? A Complete Guide To Voting In Hawaii

If you live in Hawaii and want to know when elections are held so you can fulfill your civic duty and vote, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a quick answer: Major elections in Hawaii like the presidential election, congressional elections, state primary elections, and local elections happen in even numbered years on the second Tuesday in August for the primary election and the Tuesday after the first Monday in November for the general election.

This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to know about voting in Hawaii. We’ll cover key dates for upcoming elections, voter registration deadlines, different types of elections in Hawaii from federal to local, voter eligibility requirements, voting early or absentee if needed, and more.

Upcoming Election Dates in Hawaii

2024 Presidential Election

The 2024 presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Hawaii has 4 electoral votes at stake in the presidential race. As a heavily Democratic-leaning state, Hawaii has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1988.

Voter registration deadline is October 5, 2024 to be eligible to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Hawaii offers same-day voter registration, so voters can register and vote on Election Day at voter service centers.

Key dates for Hawaii voters in the 2024 presidential election:

• Voter registration deadline: October 5, 2024
• Early voting period: October 26 – November 2, 2024
• Election Day: November 5, 2024

2024 Congressional Elections

Along with the presidential race, Hawaii voters will be electing candidates for Congress in 2024. Hawaii has two seats in the House of Representatives.

The voter registration deadline for the 2024 congressional elections is the same as the presidential election – October 5, 2024. Key dates are:

• Voter registration deadline: October 5, 2024
• Primary election: August 10, 2024
• General election: November 5, 2024

2024 State and Local Elections

In addition to federal offices, Hawaii will hold elections for state legislature seats and local offices in 2024. This includes elections for:

• Governor
• Lt. Governor
• State Senators
• State Representatives
• Mayors
• County Councils

Like federal races, the voter registration deadline for state and local primary elections is 30 days prior, which will be around July 11, 2024. General elections will take place on November 5, 2024 concurrently with federal offices.

Online voter registration is available in Hawaii to make registering fast and convenient. Voters should also check their registration status in advance of elections to ensure they are correctly registered.

For more details on upcoming elections and voting in Hawaii, visit the State of Hawaii Office of Elections website.

Hawaii Voter Registration

Registration Deadlines

To vote in an election in Hawaii, you must register to vote by the deadline, which is 30 days before the election. For the 2024 general election on November 5th, the registration deadline is October 6th, 2023. You can register in person up until 4:30 pm on the 30th day before an election.

Keep these important dates in mind to ensure your vote counts!

Online and In-Person Registration

Registering to vote in Hawaii is convenient – you can easily register online at https://olvr.hawaii.gov/ or in person at any county clerk office. Online registration only takes about 5 minutes to complete. You’ll need your Hawaii driver’s license or ID card number to register online.

In-person registration is also fast and you can register and vote on the same day during early walk-in voting.

Registration Eligibility

To be eligible to register to vote in Hawaii, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen and a Hawaii resident
• Be at least 16 years old (you must be 18 to vote)
• Not be incarcerated for a felony conviction
• Not be adjudicated by a court as “non compos mentis” (mentally incompetent)

Once registered, you’ll receive a voter notification card in the mail as confirmation that you’ve been added to the voter rolls. Bring this card when you go to your assigned polling place to vote. It’s that easy!

With early registration and voting options, Hawaii makes participating in democracy accessible for all eligible citizens. Don’t wait – register to vote online today and make sure your voice is heard!

Types of Elections in Hawaii

Federal Elections

As a U.S. state, Hawaii participates in federal elections to elect members of Congress and the President. This includes:

• Presidential elections – Hawaii has 4 electoral votes in the electoral college to choose the President every 4 years.
• Congressional elections – Hawaii has 2 Senators and 2 Representatives elected to the U.S. Congress.

The last presidential election was in 2020 and congressional elections are held every 2 years, with the last one in 2022.

State and Local Elections

In addition to federal elections, Hawaii holds state and local elections. This includes:

• Gubernatorial elections every 4 years to elect the Governor of Hawaii.
• State legislature elections every 2 years to elect members of the Hawaii House and Senate.
• County elections for offices like Mayor, County Council, etc.

The last gubernatorial election was in 2018. State legislature and county elections are held in even numbered years at the same time as congressional elections.

Upcoming elections in Hawaii include the 2024 presidential race, 2024 gubernatorial election, and 2026 congressional and state legislature elections.

Hawaii Voting Eligibility

Identification and Residency Requirements

To be eligible to vote in Hawaii, you must be a resident of the state. This means you must have a Hawaii home address where you live and keep personal belongings. You must also have a Hawaii’s driver’s license or state ID card showing this address.

If you recently moved to Hawaii, you must get a new license within 30 days. Without proof of residency, you cannot register to vote.

When registering to vote in Hawaii, you’ll need to provide either your Hawaii driver’s license number or state ID card number. If you don’t have either document, you can provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Failing that, you can still register but will need to provide an acceptable photo ID when voting for the first time.

College Students

College students living in Hawaii can register to vote using their school address. As long as you consider Hawaii home and plan to reside here after graduation, you are eligible. Many out-of-state students attending University of Hawaii or other schools do establish residency and voting rights.

Here are some tips for student voters in Hawaii:

• If you live on campus, use your dorm address when registering.
• If you live off campus, register with that home address in Hawaii.
• You don’t need a Hawaii driver’s license if you have another accepted photo ID.
• Request an absentee ballot if you’ll be away from school on Election Day.

Consult your school’s election website or student groups for more voting information and resources tailored to students.

Those Convicted of Crimes

In Hawaii, convicted felons lose voting rights only while incarcerated – not after release. As soon as your sentence is complete, voting rights are automatically restored. Those on parole or probation can also vote. The state does not require an additional application.

Here are some key details on voting with a criminal record in Hawaii:

• Felony convictions lead to disqualification while serving sentence.
• Misdemeanor convictions do not affect voting eligibility.
• Once sentence fully served, voting rights restored.
• Those awaiting trial in jail can vote absentee.

If you have any unsure about your voting eligibility with a record, visit the Hawaii Office of Elections website or call their voter hotline.

Absentee Voting and Early Voting in Hawaii

Hawaii makes it easy for citizens to cast their ballots early through absentee voting and early voting. These convenient options allow voters to avoid long lines on Election Day and fit voting into their schedules.

Absentee Voting

Any registered voter in Hawaii can request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested up to 7 days before an election. Voters must submit a completed application to their County Elections Division office. Applications can be found online or at county offices.

There are no strict requirements for absentee voting in Hawaii. Voters do not need to provide a reason for voting absentee. Once an application is approved, voters will receive their ballots in the mail. Completed ballots must be received by the county elections office by 7 PM on Election Day.

Early Voting

Hawaii also offers early walk-in voting at designated locations. Early voting begins 10 days before an election and lasts until the Saturday before Election Day. Hours and locations may vary by county.

In the 2020 general election, around half of Hawaii voters cast their ballots early. This shows just how popular and convenient these options are for citizens.

Here is a comparison of early voting details by county:

Full details on early voting and absentee voting in Hawaii can be found on the Hawaii Office of Elections website. This site lists all key dates, application forms, and voter instructions.

Voting in Person in Hawaii

Polling Place Hours

Polling places in Hawaii are open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Election Day, which is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years. This means for the 2024 presidential election, Hawaii polling locations will be open on November 5th, 2024 for in-person voting.

Voters who are in line at the polling place by 6:00 PM are still allowed to cast their ballot. So if you show up at 5:55 PM, you should have time to vote. Just make sure to get there early in case there are long lines!

Acceptable Types of ID

To vote in person in Hawaii, you must bring an acceptable form of identification. Here are the valid IDs you can use to vote at your polling place on Election Day:

• Hawaii driver’s license
• Hawaii state ID card
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID
• Any ID card issued by the U.S. government or state of Hawaii (e.g. employee badge)

As long as your ID has your name and photograph, you should be all set. Make sure to double check the expiration date too. If your ID is expired, it likely won’t be accepted.

If you show up without an accepted form of ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot. But you may need to provide additional documentation to election officials after the fact to get your provisional ballot counted.

So do yourself a favor and don’t forget your driver’s license or other valid ID! The last thing you want is extra hassle after taking the time to actually vote in person.

Conclusion

We’ve covered all the key details you need to know around voting in Hawaii—from upcoming election dates, to voter registration deadlines, types of elections, voter eligibility, and details around early voting, absentee voting, and voting in person in Hawaii.

With this guide in hand, you should now understand exactly when Hawaii votes and have all the necessary information to exercise your right to vote.

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