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Hawaii absentee and mail ballot guide
Hawaii absentee ballot overview
All Hawaii elections are held by mail. This means that Hawaii will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- If you need to update your mailing address permanently, register to vote again using your new mailing address.
- If you need to update your mailing address temporarily -- because you will be out of town for a specific election -- request a one-time absentee ballot.
Hawaii absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: Anytime.
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Hawaii absentee ballot rules
All Hawaii elections are vote-by-mail. You can still request a one-time absentee ballot if you will be temporarily out of town during a specific election.
Hawaii online ballot request
Hawaii does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Hawaii by-mail ballot request
- Download the Hawaii absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 7 days before Election Day.
Hawaii in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is: 7 days before Election Day.
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Hawaii absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: Hawaii is an all vote-by-mail state and you are not required to present ID to request an absentee ballot. However, if you need to request a temporary change of address for your ballot to be sent, you must include your Hawaii drivers license or state ID number. If you do not have an ID, you must include the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you have none of these, there is a box to check indicating that you do not have the requested ID. The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Hawaii elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Office of Elections State of Hawaii 802 Lehua Avenue Pearl City, HI 96782
External resources
- Hawaii online voter registration
- Hawaii voter status lookup
- Hawaii absentee ballot tracker
- Hawaii polling place locator