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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:37 p.m., Friday, September 19, 2008

Hawaii gets ready for primary election

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The 2008 Kids Voting Hawaii season kicked off at a rally today on the front lawn of Kaimuki High School, featuring the school’s band, cheerleaders, and speakers including Gov. Linda Lingle. Kids Voting Hawaii fosters civic involvement and participation in the voting process for public and private school students, who vote in the General Election, set this year for Nov. 4. Organizers said while Kids Voting Hawaii involves only the General Election, the students hope that their timely rally will inspire adults to go to the polls tomorrow, and register in time for the General Election.

GREGORY YAMAMOTO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Polling sites around the Islands open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. as voters across the state vote on legislative and Congressional seats and county mayors on O'ahu, Kaua'i and the Big Island.

Although polls close at 6 p.m. tomorrow, people standing in line will still be able to cast ballots.

Election officials encourage people to vote during the nonpeak hours of 9:30-11 a.m. and from 1-4 p.m. tomorrow.

Because tomorrow is a primary election, voters will mark their ballots by which party primary they want to participate in, then can vote only for that party's election contestants.

For more information, call the Office of Elections at 453-8683 or check locations of polling places by visiting www.hawaii.gov/elections and click on the link, "Polling Place Locator."

Also to be decided tomorrow are each party's finalists for the November general election in state House and Senate campaigns. Several county council and state Board of Education campaigns also will be decided.

Voter registration is up just 1.8 percent statewide from two years ago, and elections officials predict that about 40 percent of voters who participate in the primary will cast ballots via absentee or walk-in voting before Saturday.

Island-by-island turnout may be higher because of the mayoral campaigns. On the Big Island, for example, voter registration is up 6 percent.

For information on specific county elections, call your county clerk:

• Honolulu: 768-3800

• Big Island: 961-8277

• Maui: 270-7749

• Kaua'i: 241-6350

For assistance on election day, call the state Office of Elections at 453-VOTE (8683). Neighbor Islanders can call toll free at 800 442-8683 or contact their county clerk's office.