Maui Primary Voter Turnout Highest in 20 Years

Voter turnout, graphics/image by Wendy Osher.

Maui’s voter turnout was 36.2% in Saturday’s primary election.

That’s the highest for a primary election in Maui County in two decades, but still the lowest in the state behind the 43% turnout on Kauaʻi, the 38% turnout on the Big Island and Oʻahu.

This year marked the first time voters were allowed to register during absentee walk-in voting and on election day.

Maui has seen better numbers for the primary in the past. Back in 1998 more than 47% of registered voters turned out to vote.

Looking ahead to November, there’s traditionally an uptick in participation for the general election. In the last general election in 2016, Maui turnout was 56.4%; In 2004 and 2008, more than 61% of voters turned out; and 20 years ago in 1998, general election turnout was at 65% in Maui County.

Current voter rolls show  94,194 registered voters in Maui County.  Total turnout for the Primary election was 34,073 (including a precinct turnout of 12,950 or 13.7% and an absentee turnout of 21,123 or 22.4%).