Two elections, two different purposes
In most of the United States, including Hawaiʻi, elections follow a two-step process: a primary in the summer and a general election in November.
- In the primary, voters declare their party and within each party, voters choose which candidate will appear on the November ballot as that party's candidate.
- In the general election, all registered voters (regardless of party) choose between the candidates who won the primary elections to decide who actually wins which office.
Why the primary matters so much in Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi is one of the most reliably Democratic states in the country. In most races, the Democratic candidate wins the general election against the Republican candidate by a wide margin. This means that in practice, the primary is the election that counts: whoever wins the Democratic primary in August will almost certainly hold the office come January.
Voter turnout in primaries is historically much lower than in general elections, which means your vote carries even more weight. In 2024, Hawaiʻi recorded its lowest primary turnout since statehood, with only around 32% of eligible voters participating.
Who can vote in the primary?
The State of Hawaiʻi has an open primary system, which means you do not need to be registered with a party to vote. Any registered voter can participate in any party's primary, but only one party's primary per election. You choose which party's ballot you want when you receive your ballot.
One exception: some local party elections only allow registered party members to vote, so you may need to be registered with that party in advance. For most state and federal primary races, however, any registered voter can participate.
When are the elections?
For 2026:
- Primary: August 8, 2026 (ballots mailed out the week of July 21st)
- General election: November 3, 2026
These dates vary slightly from year to year. The Hawaiʻi Office of Elections publishes the official calendar ahead of each election cycle.
What's actually on the ballot?
Both the primary and the general election cover races at all three levels of government: local (county), state, and federal. Depending on where you live, your ballot could include races for county council, state legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and more.
Want to understand how those levels of government fit together? Read the related resource: How Hawaiʻi's three Levels of Government work.
Ready to vote?
If you're not yet registered, start here! Already registered? Here's what happens next: How to vote in Hawaiʻi.