All posts by Genevive Bjorn

Voter Registration Deadlines in All States

Each state sets its own deadlines for voter registration. Here is a complete list of each state’s voter registration deadlines:

Alabama — Voter registration is closed during the ten days preceding an election. Applications must be postmarked or delivered by the eleventh day prior to the election.

Alaska — 30 days before the election.

Arizona — 29 days before the election.

Arkansas — 30 days before the election.

California — 15 days before the election.

Colorado — 29 days before the election.

Connecticut — 14 days before the election.

Delaware — The 4th Saturday before a primary or general election, and 10 days before a special election.

District of Columbia — 30 days before the election.

Florida — 29 days before the election.

Georgia — The fifth Monday before any general primary, general election, or presidential preference primary, or regularly scheduled special election pursuant to the Georgia Election Code. In the event that a special election is scheduled on a date other that those dates prescribed by the Georgia Election Code, registration would close on the 5th day after the call.

Hawaii — 30 days before the election.

Idaho— 25 days before the election.

Illinois — 28 days prior to each election.

Indiana — 29 days prior to each election.

Iowa — Must be delivered by 5 p.m. 10 days before the election, if it is a state primary or general election; 11 days before all others.* Registration forms which are postmarked 15 or more days before an election are
considered on time even if received after the deadline.

Kansas — Postmarked or delivered 15 days before the election.

Kentucky — 29 days before the election.

Louisiana — 30 days before the election.

Maine — Delivered 10 business days before the election (or a voter may register in-person up to and including election day).

Maryland — 9:00 p.m. 21 days before the election.

Massachusetts — 20 days before the election.

Michigan — 30 days before the election.

Minnesota — Delivered by 5:00 p.m. 21 days before the election (there is also election day registration at polling places).

Mississippi — 30 days before the election.

Missouri — 28 days before the election.

Montana — 30 days before the election.

Nebraska — The third Friday before the election (or delivered by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election).

Nevada — 9:00 p.m. on the fifth Saturday before any primary or general election. 9:00 p.m. on the third Saturday before any recall or special election. However, if a recall or special election is held on the same day as a primary or general election, the registration closes at 9:00 p.m. on the fifth Saturday before the day for the elections.

New Hampshire — New Hampshire town and city clerks will accept this application only as a request for their own absentee voter mail-in registration form, which must be received by your city or town clerk by 10 days
before the election.

New Jersey — 21 days before the election.

New Mexico — 28 days before the election.

New York — 25 days before the election.

North Carolina — Postmarked 25 days before the election or received in the elections office or designated voter registration agency site by 5:00 p.m. 25 days before the election.

North Dakota — North Dakota does not have voter registration.

Ohio — 30 days before the election.

Oklahoma — 25 days before the election.

Oregon — 21 days before the election.

Pennsylvania — 30 days before an election or primary.

Rhode Island — 30 days before the election.

South Carolina — 30 days before the election.

South Dakota— Received 15 days before the election.

Tennessee — 30 days before the election.

Texas — 30 days before the election.

Utah — 30 days before the election for mail-in applications; 15 days before the election for walk-in registrations at the county clerk’s office.

Vermont — Delivered to the town clerk before 12:00 noon on the second Saturday before the election.

Virgina — Delivered 29 days before the election.

Washington — 30 days before the election (or delivered in-person to the local voter registration office 15 days before the election).

West Virginia — Delivered 21 days before the election.

Wisconsin — Twenty (20) days before the election (or completed in the local voter registration office up to 5:00 pm. 1 day before the election, or completed at the polling place on election day).

Wyoming — Wyoming by law, cannot accept this form unless State law is changed.

Voter Registration for Members of the US Armed Forces and Their Families

Hawaii’s military population includes about 40,000 active, reserve, and National Guard troops, along with 18,000 civilian DoD employees, and more than 55,000 military dependents. There are also over 120,000 veterans in Hawaii. All of these people can register to vote in Hawaii, their home state, or as federal-only voters (voting only for Federal offices). Despite all these options, voter turnout among military is exceptionally low.

It is difficult to find a single clear picture of the entire service. Hawaii’s statewide 2006 general election summary report gives a clue, indicating only 237 overseas ballots cast by Hawaii-resident federal voters.

In the 2004 general election Hawaii reported 459 overseas ballots cast. But earlier elections tell a story of neglect: In the 2003 Second Congressional District special election no overseas ballots were cast.

In the 2002 Primary election only two overseas ballots were cast. Overseas results were not itemized in the 2002 General election nor in the 2002 Special election.

In the 2000 general election 80 overseas ballots were cast. Fifteen were cast in the 2000 primary election.

Part of the problem is the short turn-around time between the September 20 Primary election and the November 4 General election. Primary election absentee ballots are mailed out August 16. General election absentee ballots are mailed out September 30, effectively creating a five-week window.

For personnel in combat zones, on submarines, or aboard ship this is nearly impossible timing. A patrolling submarine may not receive mail for six months at a time; ships irregularly; forward-deployed combat units perhaps once every two weeks.

Personnel transferred to a new post may have mail delayed by two or three weeks or more. If ballot preparation is delayed by a disputed election result or a recount, the schedule gets even tighter. Many young recruits never even register.

For military and their families who miss the in-state registration deadlines, it’s still possible to register and vote as federal-only. But if being shut out of local and state races stings, it’s always possible to help the process by encouraging other eligible people to vote.

Preview of Hawaii’s General Election Ballot

My absentee ballot for the November 2008 general election arrived in yesterday’s mail. Here’s what’s on the Hawaii ballot for Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties. The ballot is two-sided.

SEE THE ELECTION RESULTS

Side 1

FEDERAL CONTESTS

President  and Vice President

0 (C) Baldwin, Chuck for President and Castle, Darrell L for Vice President

0 (L) Barr, Bob for President and Root, Wayne A for Vice President

0 (R) McCain John for President and Palin, Sarah for Vice President

0 (G) McKinney, Cynthia for President and Clemente, Rosa for Vice President

0 (I) Nader, Ralph for President and Gonzalez, Matt for Vice President

0 (D) Obama, Barrack for President and Biden, Joe for Vice President

US Representative, Dist II

0 (R) Evans, Roger B

0 (D) Hirono, Mazie

0 (L) Mallan, Lloyd J (Jeff)

0 (I) Stenshol, Shaun

STATE CONTESTS

Board of Education, Second School Board District

1st Departmental School District Seat (Hawaii)

0 Sanborn, J. William (Bill)

0 Watanabe, Herbert S.

7th Departmental School District Seat (Kauai)

0 Cox, Maggie

0 Fillhart, Larry

Official Special OHA Election Ballot

0 Apoliona, Haunani

0 Honda, Helene SM

0 Kippen, Colin C

0 Nalua’i, Sol

Hawaii Resident Trustee

0 Lindsey, Bob

0 Meyers, William (Willy)

Kauai Resident Trustee

0 Cataluna, Donald B

Molokai Resident Trustee

0 Machado, Colette Y Piipii

0 Purdy, Waipa

COUNTY OF MAUI

Councilmember (East Maui)

0 De Naie, Lucienne (Luci)

0 Medeiros, Bill (Kauakea)

Councilmember (West Maui)

0 Fukuyama, Alan (Al)

0 Johnson, Jo Anne

Councilmember (Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu)

0 Victorino, Michael (Mike)

Councilmember (Kahului)

0 Halpern, Netra

0 Pontanilla, Joe

Councilmember (South Maui)

0 Couch, Don

0 Nishiki, Wayne K

Councilmember (Makawao-Haiku-Paia)

0 Molina, Mike

0 Nishiki, Kai

Councilmember (Upcountry)

0 Baisa, Gladys Cohelo

0 Howden, Michael S

Councilmember (Lanai)

0 Kaho’ohalahala, Sol P

0 Ornellas, John W

Councilmember (Molokai)

0 Mateo, Danny A

Side 2

STATE OF HAWAII CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION QUESTION

CON CON: Constitutional Convention Question

“Shal there be a convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the Constitution?

0 Yes

0 No

AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION PROPOSED BY THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

CON AMEND: Age Qualification for Governor

“Shall the age qualification for the office of governor and the office of lieutentant governor be reduced from thirty years of age to twenty-five years of age?

0 Yes

0 No