15 percent of Hawaii County residents have already voted

With less than a week to go until Election Day, more than 15 percent of Hawaii County’s 109,957 registered voters already voted.

That includes 1,969 at the early walk-in voting precincts and 14,827 by mail, county Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto said Monday. There are 109,957 registered voters in the county.

Early voting continues 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through Thursday at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona, Aupuni Center in Hilo and the Waimea Community Center. In addition, the Pahala Community Center is open 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. through Thursday.

“Voters can go to any one of the four early voting sites in the county to cast their ballot,” Nakamoto said. “With the increase in absentee mail voting, the early voting sites have seen a decline in turnout, therefore there are no long lines to wait in.”

Mail-in ballots must be returned to any polling place or the clerk’s office by the 6 p.m. close of polls on Election Day, which is Saturday. Polls open at 7 a.m. that day.

“Voting is an opportunity voters have to elect government officials who they feel will represent their views in government,” Nakamoto said. “If voters are unable to go to the polls on Election Day, early voting is a convenient way for them to vote.”

Statewide, more than 8,000 people have cast ballots in advance, down from about 10,000 this far into the early voting in 2014, said Nedielyn Bueno, voter services section chief at the state Office of Elections.

Total turnout in the 2014 primary was 41.5 percent statewide and 37.5 percent of Hawaii County registered voters. In all, about 23 percent of county and state registered voters voted before Election Day, compared to 18 percent statewide and 14.5 percent of Hawaii County voters who voted on Election Day at their precincts.

“We’re down a little,” Bueno said. “We’re definitely hoping things will pick up . . . We just want to make sure people are voting.”

Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.