Hawaii’s 2026 Primary: Key Deadlines, Voter Guide and Contested Races

Hawaii’s 2026 primary election is approaching—and now is the time to prepare.Eva Andrade and Marcus Oshiro review the election timeline, from the arrival of mail ballots and the start of early in-person voting to registration deadlines and Election Day on August 8. They also explain common ballot mistakes, replacement options, and why voters must remain within a single party ticket when voting in the primary.The conversation introduces Hawaii Family Forum’s 2026 voter guide, featuring candidates’ verbatim responses to 21 policy questions and two essay prompts. Eva and Marcus discuss candidate participation, preview several contested federal, state and county races, and explain why elections for lieutenant governor, mayor, Congress, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and county councils deserve voters’ attention.Visit HawaiiFamilyForum.org for the voter guide, election resources, ballot drop-box locations and additional information.Have you experienced difficulty obtaining a ballot or contacting the Office of Elections? Email Eva at [email protected]'t forget to subscribe to the FFF podcast for more in-depth discussions on social and political issues that matter to you!