Democratic Party primaries in Hawaii, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: Oct. 23 - Nov. 3
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Non-photo ID
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
| Democratic Party primaries, 2018 |
 |
| Primary Date |
| August 11, 2018 |
| Federal elections |
| Democratic primary for U.S. Senate |
| Democratic primaries for U.S. House |
| State elections |
| Democratic primaries for Hawaii legislature |
| Democratic primary for governor |
| Democratic primary for lieutenant governor |
| State party |
| Democratic Party of Hawaii |
| State political party revenue |
Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on their party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.
Heading into the 2018 election, the Democratic Party sought to increase its power at the state and federal levels under the Trump administration. Its membership, however, disagreed on several major policy areas, including healthcare, free trade, education funding, a federal job guarantee, and a proposal to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[1][2]
Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee won 31 of 33 primaries in 2018.[3] Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D) primary victory over incumbent Joseph Crowley (D) in New York's 14th Congressional District was a notable victory for progressive activists.[4][5][6]
Democrats also won a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama for the first time in 30 years and flipped longtime Republican seats in the Wisconsin state Senate and Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District. A record number of Republican congressional retirements also led to large Democratic fields for typically non-competitive seats.[7]
This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Hawaii on August 11, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.
Battleground primaries
Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.
- Hawaii's 1st Congressional District election (August 11, 2018 Democratic primary)
- Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election (August 11, 2018 Democratic primary)
- Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 11 Democratic primary)
Federal elections
U.S. Senate
Democratic primary candidates- Mazie K. Hirono (Incumbent) ✔
U.S. House
District 1
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyDistrict 2
Democratic primary candidates- Tulsi Gabbard (Incumbent) ✔
- Anthony Tony Austin
- Sherry Alu Campagna
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyState elections
Hawaii Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty-six years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Gubernatorial election
Democratic primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
Lieutenant gubernatorial election
Democratic primary candidates
State party overview
- See also: Democratic Party of Hawaii
State political party revenue
State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The following table displays the Democratic Party of Hawaii's revenue over a six-year period from 2011 to 2016. Revenue totals are broken down by account type and year. The data was compiled through publicly available state and federal campaign finance reports.
| Democratic Party of Hawaii revenue, 2011 to 2016[9][10] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Federal account | State account(s) | Total |
| 2011 | $213,585.53 | $62,457.49 | $276,043.02 |
| 2012 | $889,503.58 | $260,183.95 | $1,149,687.53 |
| 2013 | $153,831.88 | $35,323.84 | $189,155.72 |
| 2014 | $423,962.89 | $70,788.26 | $494,751.15 |
| 2015 | $152,539.45 | $39,800.00 | $192,339.45 |
| 2016 | $324,117.93 | $77,410.67 | $401,528.60 |
Hawaii compared to other states
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:
Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016
Primary election scheduling
Hawaii was the only state to hold a primary election on August 11, 2018.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Hawaii utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[11][12]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
As of 2020, Hawaii is an all-mail voting state, which means that its elections are conducted almost exclusively by mail. There are voter service centers that are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on election day, and with varying hours for ten business days prior to each election, to receive personal delivery of mail-in ballots, accommodate voters with special needs, offer same-day registration and voting, and provide other election services.
To find the locations and hours of voter service centers, see here.[13][14]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Hawaii, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years old. Pre-registration is available beginning at age 16.[15][16]
Registration can be completed in the following ways:[15]
Online: Visit olvr.hawaii.gov. You must have a current Hawaii Driver’s License or State ID to complete an application online.
Mail: Print & submit a completed Voter Registration Application to your Clerk’s Office. Paper application must be submitted to the county elections division by 4:30 PM on the tenth day before each election.
In-person: Visit the Office of Elections or a Clerk’s Office to submit an application in person.
Applications are available at any of the following locations: [15]
- County Elections Divisions
- Clerk’s Offices
- State Libraries
- U.S. Post Offices
- Most State Agencies
- Satellite City Halls
Same-day voter registration is available at voter service centers, to register and vote in-person, beginning 10 days prior and through election day. Paper registration applications must be submitted to county election divisions by 4:30 PM on the tenth day before each election. Once you are registered, you do not need to re-register for another election unless your residence address, mailing address, or name changes. Hawaii adopted same-day registration in 2014; implementation occurred in 2018.[15]
Automatic registration
Hawaii offers automatic voter registration for eligible individuals through the Department of Motor Vehicles when they complete a driver license or state ID application, and the Department of Health and Department of Human Services when applying to receive public assistance.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Hawaii has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Hawaii allows same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Hawaii, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. The voter registration application includes the following language: "The residence stated in this affidavit is not simply because of my presence in the State, but was acquired with the intent to make Hawaii my legal residence with all the accompanying obligations therein."[16]
Verification of citizenship
Hawaii does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "any person who knowingly furnishes false information may be guilty of a Class C felony."[17]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[18] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
Hawaii's Online Voter Registration System, run by the Hawaii Office of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Voters in Hawaii are not generally required to present identification while voting. In 2019, the statute requiring voters to present identification if so requested by a precinct official was repealed.
When registering to vote for the first time, a Hawaii Driver License, Hawaii State ID, or the last 4-digits of the voter's Social Security Number is required. If none of these can be provided, one of the following must be provided as proof of identification:
- A current and valid photo identification; or
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.[16]
Early voting
Since it is an all-mail voting state, Hawaii permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Hawaii conducts its elections by mail. All eligible voters automatically receive mail ballots, which must be returned election officials by close of polls on Election Day.[13]
See also
| Federal primaries in Hawaii | State primaries in Hawaii | Hawaii state party apparatus | Hawaii voter information |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
 |
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Footnotes
- ↑ CNN, "Why a 'federal jobs guarantee' is gaining steam with Democrats," April 26, 2018
- ↑ The Atlantic, "What ‘Abolish ICE’ Actually Means," July 11, 2018
- ↑ CNBC, "Despite Ocasio-Cortez upset, Democratic primaries have not gone as far left as some argue," June 28, 2018
- ↑ New York Times, "There Is a Revolution on the Left. Democrats Are Bracing." July 21, 2018
- ↑ New York Times, "Democrats Are Moving Left. Don’t Panic," July 23, 2018
- ↑ Time, "How Democrats in Congress Responded to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Surprise Win," June 28, 2018
- ↑ CNN, "9 Democratic primaries to watch in 2018," October 26, 2017
- ↑ Honolulu Star-Adviser, "'I never quit, especially when things get tough," May 17, 2017
- ↑ State of Hawaii, "Campaign Spending Commission," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Hawaii Republican Party and Democratic Party of Hawaii)
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Hawaii Republican Party and Hawaii Democratic Party)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "Hawaii Revised Statutes §12-31," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 State of Hawaii - Office of Elections, "Voting in Hawaii," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "HB1248," accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Registration," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Voter Registration and Permanent Absentee Application," accessed July 19, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "regapp" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Hawaii Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
