Takahashi said it's too early to tell if the increase is a portend of things to come during the absentee walk-in period, which runs through Sept. 16.

In general, however, election officials expect an increase in absentee voters this primary season over 2002, when one in four voters voted absentee either by walk-in or mail.

At City Hall, McCully retirees Thomas and Doris Ito said they need to vote absentee because they will be visiting their son on the Mainland come primary election day.

Doris Ito, 74, said voting absentee proved to be much easier than standing in line in her precinct on election day. "They even give you free parking; people should come," she said.

Patrick Hannigan, a downtown attorney, said he was spurred to vote absentee this year after reading in the newspaper that a possible shortage of precinct workers could lead to long wait times on election day. "This way, I don't have to go to the (precinct) and put up with the lines and all that," said Hannigan, 40.

Sam Wattles, 54, felt the same way. "There'll be much more hassle if they're short on election day," said Wattles, a downtown resident and newspaper vendor.

Pat Aburano, 49, said she likes voting absentee "because it's quieter." Aburano, a Kailua attorney, said she prefers the absentee walk-in option to voting by absentee mail. "There's something about voting," she said, "you just want to be at a polling place."

Those voters willing to divulge their leanings were divided on who they wanted to see become mayor.

Former state Rep. Ted Mina and his friend, Ted Salibay, said they voted early so that they could free themselves up to escort other voters in their neighborhood to vote for mayoral hopeful Mufi Hannemann.

"Most of the time, people forget or are too lazy to go to the polls," Salibay said.

"You know how Filipinos are — sometimes they don't want to come out," Mina said. "They're kinda shy and reluctant, especially when they don't see their own kind."

Mina said Hannemann represents the best candidate because he can work with Republicans and Democrats, as well as business and labor.

Slobodan "Bob" Nikolic, a Nu'uanu resident, was among those indicating support for Duke Bainum, Hannemann's chief rival for the mayor's post. "I feel he came out on the issues," said Nikolic, 67. "I think he would make Honolulu a better town than it is now."

Joella Kawamoto, 70, of Makiki, also was voting for Bainum, she said, because "he's a better man."

Dickson Lewis, 48, an Alewa Heights trucker, said it didn't matter that Bainum and Hannemann were saturating the airwaves with commercials. He will be voting for former Mayor Frank Fasi to return to the third floor of Honolulu Hale because he is the only one of the candidates who has had experience in the job. Besides that, Lewis said, "he's for the people."

O'ahu voters can walk in to vote absentee Monday through Saturday at four sites around the island: Honolulu Hale, Kapolei Hale, Windward Mall and Pearlridge Center Uptown.

Voters may also mail in their ballots. Applications for absentee voter ballots must be received by the respective county clerk's office by Sept. 11.