If you are not a registered voter yet, today is the last day to register to vote by mail in the election on August 8, 2020.  In that election, races for Hawaii County Mayor, Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney, and all County Council races can be decided if any of the candidates gets more than 50% of the vote–so it’s a critical election.

You may register online at elections.hawaii.gov  and will need your Social Security Number and your Hawaii State ID or Hawaii Driver’s License number.

There is also in-person registration at the Hawaii County Building in Hilo at 25 Aupuni Street, at West Hawaii Civic Center, at Hilo’s Bayfront Hawaii at the old gas station at Pauahi Street, at Kona Safeway, and at Malama Market in Pahoa, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

If you do not register today, there will be in-person registration and voting at two Voter Service Center on the island  from July 27, 2020 – August 7, 2020, Monday through Saturday, excluding Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday August 8 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

No polling places will be open.  This election, and all future Hawaii elections, are all by mail.

Ballots should be in your hands by July 21, and you must put them back into the mail by August 3, 2020, to ensure arrival at the County Elections Office by August 8.  To see what races you will be able to vote for, go to elections.hawaii.gov.    You’ll be able to put in your physical address and see a sample ballot.

To listen to a conversation with County Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto, talking with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken, about the procedures, security, etc., click here.

To hear a conversation with Dr. Todd Belt, Director of the Political Management Masters Program George at Washington University in Washington, D. C. about the history of vote by mail, evidence of voter fraud because of voting by mail, and more, click here.