Here’s What You Need To Know About The Nov. 5 General Election In Hawaii
Here’s our overview of this year’s election, including links to essential information, candidate positions and news stories. Check back frequently — we’ll be updating through Nov. 5.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the U.S. presidential election this year has become a global issue. People around the world are on edge over the matchup between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
But all politics is local, a speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives once observed. While the number of candidates who filed to run in Hawaii’s 2024 elections was significantly lower than in recent years — several key races are on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
Voters will have the chance to elect one of the state’s two U.S. senators and both members of the U.S. House of Representatives. And while many races were decided in the Aug. 10 primary, eight state Senate seats and 35 state House races are on the general election ballot.
There are nonpartisan county council races in three counties (all of the Honolulu races, including the mayor’s office, were decided in the primary), and a mayoral runoff contest in Hawaii County.
And nonpartisan contests will be held for three of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees seats.
Turnout And Voting
Hawaii has historically had one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country.
That changed somewhat in 2020 when Hawaii implemented mail-in balloting statewide, which helped boost turnout.
But this year’s primary saw the lowest turnout since Hawaii became a state.
Dropping Off Your Absentee/Mail-in Ballot in Hawaii
The provide voter service centers that will be open 10 days prior to and on Election Day. Services include accessible in-person voting and same-day registration. And there are also drop box locations in all the counties.
Most ballots for the general election are expected to mailed out by Oct. 18. Completed ballots must be received by the County Elections Divisions by close of voting — 7 p.m. — on Nov. 5. Voter service centers and drop boxes also close at that time. Ballots being delivered to the drop box won’t be accepted after 7 p.m. — on the dot — but voters in line at 7 p.m. to cast ballots in person will still be able to vote.
Register To Vote Or Request An Absentee Ballot
Voters are also able to . The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 5 general election using a paper application is Oct. 28. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 29.
If you miss the deadline to register for the election, you can still and on Election Day (with proper ID or documentation of your residency) at Voter Service Centers, which will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays from Oct. 22 through Nov. 5.
The 2024 Races
Civil Beat’s unofficial general election ballot contains links to candidates’ Q&As, once they send them back to us.
No U.S. senator from Hawaii has ever lost reelection, and only one U.S. representative from Hawaii failed to get reelected. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono faces Republican Bob McDermott, as well as candidates from the Green and We The People parties.
In the 1st Congressional District (covering the greater Honolulu area), Democratic incumbent Ed Case is challenged by Republican Patrick Largey.
In the 2nd Congressional District (covering the rest of Oahu and all the neighbor islands), Democratic incumbent Jill Tokuda is challenged by Republican Steve Bond and Libertarian Aaron Toman.
In the Hawaii Legislature, 35 House seats are up for grabs and eight Senate seats.
All of the seats on the seven-member Kauai County Council, three on the nine-member Hawaii County Council and eight on the nine-member Maui County Council are on the ballot, but all the Honolulu City Council races were decided in primary.
While Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi won reelection in the primary, there is a runoff in Hawaii County between Mayor Mitch Roth and challenger Kimo Alameda.
Three of the nine seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees are on the November ballot, including one at-large seat and one seat each representing Molokai and Kauai. Incumbents seeking reelection include Dan Ahuna, Luana Alapa and Kelii Akina. All registered voters statewide can vote in OHA elections.
There will be two constitutional amendment questions on the general election ballot in 2024: one regards same-sex marriage and the other judicial selection. All four counties have proposed amendments to their respective governing charters, which will also be on the Nov. 5 ballot. Click here to find the ballot questions for each county.
Where To Find Out More
The website is the best place to find basic information you need about the elections, including how and when to register, how to find your polling place and when you can begin casting your ballot.
You can keep up with all of Civil Beat’s coverage as the election season progresses in our .
Meanwhile, here are some other resources we’ve put together to help you through the 2024 elections:
Unofficial 2024 General Election Ballot: Our way to help you keep track of races and candidates in your district. We have once again sent out questionnaires to candidates, asking them to give us their positions on key issues that are particular to the office they’re running for. You will be able to find links to these Q&As on this page.
Hawaii Civics 101: Our series of short explainer videos helps you understand politics, government and democracy in the Aloha State.
Find Your Districts
This map from the state Office of Elections shows the congressional, senatorial, representative and council district boundaries for the . Election maps for , , are also available on the state’s .
Track Your Ballot
Hawaii voters can ahead of the 2024 elections. Voters who sign up will be notified about the status of their mail ballot either through text, email or a phone message.
Voters who choose not to sign up for ballot notifications will still be able to track their ballot by going to elections.hawaii.gov or by contacting their County Elections Division.
Voter Education
Get information and help from these organizations:
Campaign Finance Resources
Both and the impose contribution limits when giving directly to candidates. Money has been flowing to candidates and political committees for the 2024 elections. You can follow the money yourself on a number of online campaign and political sites:
Federal candidates and committees:
- (National Institute on Money in Politics, the Center for Responsive Politics and the Campaign Finance Institute)
State candidates and committees, and financial disclosures:
Elections Offices Statewide
These offices oversee the elections in Hawaii:
