The County’s Primary Election, in which the Mayor, the County Prosecuting Attorney, and all the County Council members may be elected, is tomorrow.   If you still have your ballot and have not yet mailed it, the only way to ensure it is in the County Elections Office by tomorrow at 7 p.m. is to drop it at one of the Places of Deposit around the island; these boxes are open 24 hours a day from today through  Saturday, tomorrow, until 7 p.m.  Note, postmark doesn’t count-ballot must be received by 7 p.m.

–Hawaii County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Hil0

–Na’alehu Police Station, 95-5355 Mamalahoa Highway, Na’alehu

–Pahoa Police Station, 15-2615 Kea’au-Pahoa Road, Pahoa

–Rodney Yano Hall, 82-6156 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook

–Waimea Police Station, 67-5185 Kamamalu Street, Waimea

–West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kaila-Kona (by the DMV Office)

And if you had not previously registered to vote, you may still do so, and vote at the same time, at two Hawaii County Voter Service Centers (where you may also drop your already-completed ballot, in its proper envelope with your signature on the outside).    The Voter Service Centers also are open today and tomorrow for anybody having difficulty voting in the mailed-out ballot, or if you made a mistake and need a new ballot.

The two Voter Service Centers:

-West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Building, Room G (74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI  96740)

-Aupuni Center Conference Room (101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI  96740)

The Voter Service Centers are open today, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; tomorrow, Saturday,August 8, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Why vote?  In this election, the County voters will vote for nonpartisan races that include Mayor, County Prosecuting Attorney, and all the County Council members.  If any of these get more than 50% of the vote, they are elected.  If not, the top two vote-getters move on to the General Election November 3.  Plus, for the partisan races–U.S. House, State House, State Senate, this vote determines who from each political party moves on to the November 3 election.  And all the seats for Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) are on the ballot.  So your vote COUNTS!

If you have not received your ballot by mail:  Call Hawaii County Elections Office at 808-961-8277

The State Legislature voted for all vote by mail well before the COVID-19 Pandemic, after a trial “all vote by mail” in Kaua’i County.  This is the first “all vote by mail” election for Hawaii.

Questions, want to confirm your ballot has been sent or received,  or information?  www.elections.hawaii.gov  or 808-961-8277