How to vote in Hawaii
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 10 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Hawaii voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 10 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Hawaii registration using the Hawaii voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Hawaii you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of the State of Hawaii
- be 18 years old by Election Day (you may pre-register if you are 16)
- not be incarcerated for a felony conviction
- not be adjudicated by a court as non compos mentis.
You can register to vote online if you have a Hawaii driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
- Visit the Hawaii online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Provide your Hawaii driver’s license or State identification number. If you do not have either number, provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you do not have any of these numbers, please write NONE on the form.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a pollitical party.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 10 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Hawaii driver's license number or Hawaii state ID number. If you do not have either of these, you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- Summary: Hawaii has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated in-person voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Hawaii driver's license number or Hawaii state ID number. If you do not have either of these, you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are restored when you are released from prison. You can register to vote on probation or parole.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Hawaii absentee and mail ballot guide
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.
- Earliest day to apply: Anytime.
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 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
- All Hawaii elections are vote-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 temporarily for a specific election, request a one-time absentee ballot.
Hawaii does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- 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.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- 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.
- 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 drop box if one is available nearby. 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.
- 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.
Track your ballot here: Hawaii absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the state records.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 5th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
All elections are held by mail in Hawaii but there is something similar to an emergency absentee ballot. If you are unable to vote the ballot that was mailed to your house for some unexpected reason, you can request a replacement ballot after 4:30PM 7 days before an election.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Hawaii early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Most Hawaii voters do not need to show ID. First time Hawaii voters should plan on showing a non-expired photo ID if you vote in person. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Hawaii voter ID guide
Most Hawaii voters do not need to show ID. First time Hawaii voters should plan on showing a non-expired photo ID if you vote in person. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
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.
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.
You can register to vote online if you have a Hawaii driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
Bring your Hawaii driver's license number or Hawaii state ID number. If you do not have either of these, you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
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