LIHU‘E — If you are still thinking about voting, now is the time to make up your mind. The primary election will be held Aug. 11, but the deadline to register to vote is this Thursday. “Be aware of the
LIHU‘E — If you are still thinking about voting, now is the time to make up your mind. The primary election will be held Aug. 11, but the deadline to register to vote is this Thursday.
“Be aware of the deadline (to register),” County Elections Administrator Lyndon Yoshioka said. “By all means, register and vote.”
He said those willing to register for the primaries have to be inside the Annex Building at Lihu‘e Historic District by 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Alternatively, they can download the voter registration form at www.kauai.gov and mail it to the county Elections Division at 4386 Rice St. Suite 101, Lihu‘e, HI 96766. As long as it is properly filled, signed and postmarked by Thursday, the registration should be good, according to Yoshioka.
The state of Hawai‘i holds elections during even-numbered years. Prior to this year’s general election on Nov. 6, the state will hold a primary election, which will narrow down candidates for some office positions.
Yoshioka said the primaries essentially dictate which candidates from each party move on to the general elections.
He said the Kaua‘i County Council’s list of hopefuls for the general elections won’t be affected by the results in August, because all nine candidates — including seven incumbents — will make it to the November elections.
Both candidates for County Prosecuting Attorney won’t be affected in the primaries either. Yoshioka said regardless of the results in the primaries, incumbent County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho and Deputy County Attorney Justin Kollar will make it to the general election.
But the races for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District are at full steam, with Democrat candidates racing neck to neck.
The primaries will reveal who will be the Democrat to face Republican and former Gov. Linda Lingle in the race to replace Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai‘i, at the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai‘i, is battling former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai‘i, in the Democratic Party. Both candidates are at a statistical tie, according to polls recently conducted by Honolulu Civil Beat.
Case and Hirono will also face three additional Democrats (Michael Gillespie, Antonio Gimbernaut and Art Reyes) in the primaries. Lingle is expected to advance to the general elections, despite facing three additional Republicans (John Carroll, Eddie Pirkowski and John Roco) in the primaries. Heath Beasley is the only non-partisan in the primaries and will move straight to the general elections.
Several candidates are hoping to fill the seat being vacated by Hirono at Hawai‘i’s 2nd Congressional District at the U.S. House.
At the Democratic Party, Honolulu Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard and former Honolulu Mayor Muffi Hanneman are at a statistical tie, according to polls by Honolulu Civil Beat. The same polls show Gabbard overcame a 45-point deficit a year ago to reach a statistical tie with Hanneman in June.
Gabbard and Hanneman will also face four additional Democrats (Rafael Del Castillo, Esther Kia‘aina, Bob Marx and Miles Shiratori) in the primaries. On the Republican side, Kawika Crowley and Matthew DiGeronimo will be vying a ticket to the general election.
Out of the three Kaua‘i state representatives running for reelection, only Rep. Dee Morikawa, D-16th District, is facing opposition.
She is being challenged by Republican Troy Trujillo for the right to represent the district that goes from Koloa to the Westside, including Ni‘ihau.
Reps. Derek Kawakami, D-14th District, and Jimmy Tokioka, D-15th District, are running unopposed.
Residents of Hawai‘i who will be older than 18 years old by Election Day (Aug. 11) and are U.S. citizens are eligible to vote, as long as they have successfully registered to vote. A felony conviction or a declaration of mental incompetence takes that eligibility away, according to the state Office of Elections.
Those who are already registered but have since changed their name, residence or mailing address should re-register. Besides being available online and at the county Elections Division, voter registration forms may also be picked up at post offices, public libraries, at the County Clerk’s office and at most state agencies.
Visit www.kauai.gov/elections for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
