Primary still a go

LIHUE — State and county elections officials say it will be business as usual on Saturday, at least for now, as Hurricane Iselle moves toward the Hawaiian Islands.

What this will likely mean is that all 16 polling locations on Kauai will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the primary election — just one day after the now Category 1 hurricane is expected to move south of the island.  

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said possible polling location closures during Saturday’s primary election “will be based solely on the basis of health and safety of our people.” 

Rex Quidilla, head of voter services for the state Office of Elections, said any actions taken to possibly extend polling place hours, consolidate polls or postpone the elections would be contingent upon the governor issuing a major disaster declaration. 

Quidilla said the governor has the power to extend polling place hours, while the state’s chief elections officer, Scott Nago, has the authority to consolidate polling locations or postpone the election. 

Until that is done, initial plans for this year’s primary election will continue.

County elections officials, meanwhile, said they are encouraging current registered voters to vote early at the Historic County Building Annex in Lihue. The last day to participate in early voting services is today. Polls in the building’s basement will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

County Elections Administrator Lyndon Yoshioka said 2,971 registered county voters participated in the primary election’s early voting services on Kauai so far.

Of the 9,506 absentee ballots sent out, 6,344 had been processed and received by Wednesday afternoon — a return rate of about 66.7 percent. 

“We are encouraging voters to come to early voting, since it is a service that we are currently offering, because we really don’t know what Saturday will be like,” Yoshioka said.