Best Practices for Vote By Mail in Hawaii

HAWAII: VOTE BY MAIL FOR SECURE ELECTIONS IN 2020

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR HAWAII ELECTIONS OFFICIALS

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE 

Sightline’s state-by-state guides are designed to give local election officials and legislators the information they need to identify and take the most important steps to get ready for November. Each set of state-specific resources includes best practices and established models from around the country, including practical nuts and bolts advice for clerks, materials from election administrators with experience conducting all mail elections, and information about vendors and costs.

How Hawaii is prepared for Vote By Mail

• Provides a postage-prepaid return envelope for mailed ballots.
• Allows any voter to request an absentee ballot.
• Offers voters a “single sign-up” option to permanently vote by mail.
• Uses voters’ signatures to verify ballots.
• Allows county clerks to start processing ballots sufficiently early.
• Allows voters to register and request an absentee ballot online.
• Allows anyone to return sealed ballots in person.

RECOMMENDED STEPS FOR SECURE ELECTIONS

Within each section, recommendations are arranged roughly in order of importance and ease of implementation.

For Local Election Officials

• Coordinate with USPS.
• Design ballots and envelopes that are easy to use.
• Implement robust signature verification.
• Provide secure drop boxes.
• Consider using a professional printer and ballot sorter.
• Count ballots at a secure centralized facility.
• Invest in high-speed centralized equipment.

For Hawaii’s Secretary of State

• Use a comprehensive system to track ballots.
• Give voters sufficient opportunity to cure signature problems.

For Lawmakers

• Join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
• Account for voters with nontraditional addresses.
• Allow counties to accept ballots postmarked on Election Day.
• Allow voters to request replacement ballots online.
• Allow early in-person voting options.
• Automatically register voters and update their address.

Download the full Hawaii action packet, with detailed information for each recommendation.

HAWAII’S GRADE FOR VOTE BY MAIL PREPAREDNESS = B-