Kaua‘i election officials are rolling out ballot drop boxes across the island as the August 8 primary creeps closer, turning library parking lots and neighborhood centers into 24 hour voting hubs. Ballot packets are headed to mailboxes, and voters are urged to update their registration if they have moved. Completed ballots must reach the county elections office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The county’s Voter Service Center in Līhuʻe will open ahead of the primary for in person assistance and ballot drop offs.
What the county announced
In a post published Thursday, the County of Kaua‘i announced that ballot packets had been mailed and that ballot drop boxes would start being deployed on Friday. Residents who receive a ballot packet for someone who no longer lives at the address are asked to write “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS” on the envelope and return it to the U.S. Postal Service. The full announcement is available on the county’s Facebook page at County of Kaua‘i on Facebook.
Where to drop your ballot
The State Office of Elections lists Kaua‘i’s official places of deposit and notes that ballot drop boxes will be open 24 hours a day from Friday through 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Locations include the Elections Division in Līhuʻe, along with drop boxes at public libraries and neighborhood centers in Hanalei, Kīlauea, Kapā‘a, Kōloa, Princeville and Waimea, plus a drop near Waipouli Town Center. Voters can pull up an interactive statewide map of ballot drop boxes and voter service centers through the Office of Elections.
Mailing schedule and deadlines
The County of Kaua‘i’s Elections Division lists the initial mailing of primary ballots as Tuesday and recommends that voters mail back completed ballots by Aug. 3 to allow time for USPS delivery. All ballots must be received, not just postmarked, by 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 8. Voters who do not receive a ballot packet are instructed to contact the Elections Division. The official Voter Service Center will be located in the Historic County Annex basement in Līhuʻe. Details are available from the County of Kaua‘i Elections Division.
If you moved or did not get your ballot
Ballots are mailed to the address listed on a voter’s registration record, so anyone who has moved or changed mailing addresses needs to update their registration before voting. Voters can check and update their registration online and sign up to track their ballot through BallotTrax, according to the Office of Elections. The County Elections Division can also issue replacement ballots and answer questions by phone.
How to make your vote count
To make sure your vote is counted, follow the return instructions carefully. Place your completed ballot in the secrecy sleeve, seal it inside the postage paid return envelope, and sign the affirmation on the envelope. Unsigned envelopes cannot be counted, no matter how early they arrive. Voters who prefer to hand deliver can drop their sealed envelope in an official drop box or bring it directly to the Voter Service Center during posted hours. For additional tips and contact information, visit the County of Kaua‘i Elections Division or call the Elections Division at (808) 241-4800.
