KAILUA-KONA — Turnout in Hawaii County for Tuesday’s election was among the lowest in the county’s history as well as the lowest in the state this year.
Between absentee and in-person votes, only 51.5 percent of the county’s 115,406 registered voters took part in the election. Kauai had the highest turnout with 58.1 percent. Maui and Honolulu recorded turnout rates of 52.2 and 52.5 percent, respectively.
Statewide participation at the polls was markedly down for Tuesday’s election. The state Office of Elections reported a statewide total turnout of 52.6 percent, down about six points from the 2016 election.
Hawaii County’s rate was higher only than the most recent nonpresidential election of 2014, when only 47.7 percent of registered voters cast ballots, according to the state.
The 2016 presidential election, according to state data, brought out 58.4 percent of the state’s registered voters compared to 61.9 percent in 2012. Hawaii County nearly mirrored the state both years with 58.4 percent turnout in 2016 and 61.2 percent in 2012.
The trend reflects a steady drop in voter participation at the polls. While turnout rates in midterms are consistently lower than those in presidential election years, recent data show fewer people are casting votes. And officials aren’t certain why.
“I wish I knew,” said Pat Nakamoto, Hawaii County elections program administrator. “I would do something about it.”
One trend Nakamoto noticed is more people casting absentee and mail-in ballots at much higher rates than those voting at polling places on Election Day.
In Hawaii County, nearly 3 out of every 5 ballots counted in Tuesday’s election — accounting for 34,497 ballots in total — were absentee ballots.
This also was the first year for same-day voter registration on Election Day. Nakamoto said many took that opportunity Tuesday. While she didn’t have exact figures, it was substantial, she said.
“It kept our control center busy the whole day,” she said.
Email Cameron Miculka at cmiculka@westhawaiitoday.com.