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Native Hawaiians have until Thursday to register to vote in the election of delegates to a Native Hawaiian constitutional convention, or aha — an election that has drawn its share of both critics and proponents.

Participants can register by going to either the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or to the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission . And information about the election process can be found at Nai Aupuni’s or by emailing naiaupuni@election-america.com.

Nai Aupuni’s leaders think the election will be very significant.

“This is an historic election for Hawaiians to determine if a reorganized Hawaiian government will be formed,” Kuhio Asam, Nai Aupuni’s president, says in a press release Monday. “The candidates in this election are diverse in their ages, backgrounds and purpose. They are representative of a good cross-section of the Native Hawaiian community and we encourage all Hawaiians to participate and vote.”

A list of qualified delegate candidates to the constitutional convention — which includes a lot of familiar names — is posted on the Nai Aupuni website.

The timeline for leading up to the aha is as follows:

• Oct. 15: Voter registration ends.
• Nov. 1: Ballots for delegates sent to certified voters. Voting begins.
• Nov. 30: Delegate voting ends and ballots must be received by this day.
• Dec. 1: Results of election of ‘aha delegates announced publicly.

The aha will be held on Oahu and run between February and April in 2016 over 40 business days.

If the delegates create a governing document, a ratification vote will take place.

Nai Aupuni has its supporters and detractors. Read some of those views here:

Ian Lind: Native Hawaiian Election Throws Out All the Rules

Participating in Nai Aupuni: Legalizing the Illegal

Naʻi Aupuni Election: A Voice of the Newest Generation

Peter Apo: Who Are We Building a Nation For?

He ʻAha Kēia? Is This a Convention?