2026 Elections Guide

Essential information, candidate positions, news stories and more.

Hawaiʻi voters will go to the polls on Nov. 3 along with the rest of the nation. But the ballot will be considerably smaller than in August when voters decided many races that now won’t appear on the general election ballot.

The state’s two congressional seats are still at the top of the ballot followed by the governor and lieutenant governor, which are statewide seats. In the Legislature, many seats were uncontested and others were won outright in the Aug. 8 primary, leaving 30 state House seats and five state Senate seats to be decided by voters in the general election. A sixth Senate seat, in Senate District 18 where Michelle Kidani retired earlier this year, will be decided on Nov. 3 in a special election concurrent with the general.

Also still to be decided in November are five seats on the board of trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, two Honolulu City Council districts, the Maui and Kauaʻi mayors’ positions, all seven Kauaʻi County Council seats, eight spots on the Maui council and three Big Island seats.

We’ll be making another push for candidates in every race to respond to our candidate surveys and we’ll continue to publish those in our Candidate Q&A section as they come in. They are also linked on our general election ballot, located in the tab above. Readers have found those to be invaluable when they sit down to fill out their ballots.

We’re covering as many races as we can, including stories on candidates, their campaigns and finances and of course any breaking news and political twists. Hot races still drawing a lot of attention — and campaign cash — include the Maui mayor and the Kauaʻi mayor plus a handful of legislative districts. Look for that in our Elections 2026 section.

Honolulu voters will also be asked to weigh in on 20 questions aimed at revamping the Honolulu City Charter, including whether to establish a ranked choice voting system, restrict police immigration enforcement actions, creating new city cultural offices, bolstering affordable housing policies and numerous other topics.

Maui voters also will have a number of ballot propositions to address. We’ll add more info on both Maui and Honolulu ballot measures to our general election ballot and our elections coverage section as it develops.

Key Dates For The Hawaiʻi General Election

Oct 16

Voters receive their General Election mail ballot packet

Oct 20

Voter service centers open

Oct 27

Deadline to request an absentee ballot

Nov 3

General Election

Where To Find Out More

The Hawaiʻi Office of Elections website is the best place to find basic information you need about the elections, including how and when to register, how to find your polling place and when you can begin casting your ballot.

Meanwhile, here are some other resources we’ve put together to help you through the 2026 elections:

Hawaiʻi’s 2026 elections are right around the corner and Civil Beat’s elections guide is here to help with essential information, candidate positions, news stories and more.

Find Your Districts

This map from the state Office of Elections shows the congressional, senatorial, representative and council district boundaries.

Track Your Ballot

Hawaiʻi voters can enroll for ballot notifications ahead of the 2026 elections. Voters who sign up will be notified about the status of their mail ballot either through text, email or a phone message.

Voters who choose not to sign up for ballot notifications will still be able to track their ballot by going to elections.hawaii.gov or by contacting their County Elections Division.

Voter Education

Get information and help from these organizations:

Campaign Finance Resources

Both the state and the federal government impose contribution limits when giving directly to candidates. Money has been flowing to candidates and political committees for the 2026 elections. You can follow the money yourself on a number of online campaign and political sites:

Federal Candidates and Committees:

State Candidates and Committees:

Elections Offices Statewide

These offices oversee the elections in Hawaiʻi:

Political Parties

Latest Stories

Ranked Choice Voting Could Shake Up Honolulu Elections

Ranked Choice Voting Could Shake Up Honolulu Elections

But there’s a catch. The Nov. 3 ballot measure includes a requirement that the Legislature approve this departure from traditional voting.

Senate Wants More Time For Judicial Picks. Should You Vote Yes?
Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Senate Wants More Time For Judicial Picks. Should You Vote Yes?

Supporters of a Nov. 3 ballot measure argue it will allow senators more scheduling flexibility and save the state money.

Maui Mayor Bissen Is Under Criminal Investigation, Police Chief Says
Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024

Maui Mayor Bissen Is Under Criminal Investigation, Police Chief Says

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier says he believes he was put on leave because of what he says are investigations into corruption in the mayor’s office.

Ex-Kanye West Campaigner Funnels Thousands To Hawaiʻi Candidates
AP

Ex-Kanye West Campaigner Funnels Thousands To Hawaiʻi Candidates

A West Virginia-based group registered to the former treasurer of Kanye West’s presidential campaign is sending thousands of dollars to a PAC funding Hawaiʻi candidates.

Chili Isn’t Enough: Hawaiʻi Candidate Lures Voters With TV, Vegas Trip

Chili Isn’t Enough: Hawaiʻi Candidate Lures Voters With TV, Vegas Trip

The prizes, promoted in a Micah Aiu mailer for a campaign rally, could violate campaign spending laws.

Candidate Q&A: Honolulu City Council Member District 6 – Tyler Dos Santos-Tam

Candidate Q&A: Honolulu City Council Member District 6 – Tyler Dos Santos-Tam

“The city should explore splitting DPP into a more focused and accountable Permitting Dept., and a visionary Planning Dept. dedicated to the island’s long-term planning needs.”

Honolulu Voters Could Make Impeached Politicians Sit Out
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Honolulu Voters Could Make Impeached Politicians Sit Out

Voters will have the opportunity to make the penalty for impeachment on par with the penalty for being recalled by voters.

2026 Hawai’i Election: Congressional District 2

2026 Hawai’i Election: Congressional District 2

Brenton Awa and Jill Tokuda talk cost of living, climate change, immigration, Native Hawaiian issues and more.

Oʻahu Voters Could Give Native Hawaiians More Sway In The City
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

Oʻahu Voters Could Give Native Hawaiians More Sway In The City

A new Office of ʻŌiwi Resources and Cultural Stewardship on Oʻahu could be modeled after a department in Maui County.

Candidate Q&A: State House District 44 – Charla Weaver

Candidate Q&A: State House District 44 – Charla Weaver

“The biggest issue facing District 44 is that our community’s needs have outgrown the resources and infrastructure we receive.”