Posted on: Thursday, October 7, 2004

Absentee deadline is Oct. 26

Advertiser Staff

Voters should apply early for absentee mail ballots to ensure there is adequate time for completed ballots to be returned, City Clerk Denise De Costa said.

The deadline to apply for absentee mail ballots is Oct. 26, and the general election is Nov. 2. Waiting until the application deadline gives very little turnaround time for ballots to be mailed and returned for counting, De Costa said.

Completed ballots must reach the city clerk's office by 6 p.m. on election day. Voters should read the ballot instructions carefully, she said.

"There were thousands of spoiled ballots in the primary election, particularly among mailed absentee ballots," De Costa said.

Voters who make mistakes on their mailed absentee ballot should destroy it and request a new one, she said.

Applications for absentee ballots are available at the city clerk's office and at Satellite City Halls, U.S. Post Offices, public libraries and state agencies.

Call the city clerk's office at 523-4293 with questions.

Neighbor Island residents may call their respective county clerk's office: 961-8277 on the Big Island, 270-7749 for Maui County and 241-6350 for Kaua'i County.