Storm Postpones Election for Two Big Island Polling Places

By Maui Now Staff

The primary election will be postponed at two polling places on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, according to an announcement made by Chief Election Officer Scott Nago.

Nagao, in consultation with the State Attorney General, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and the Office of the County Clerk made the determination after storm assessment on Friday (8/8) afternoon.

Roads leading to polling places at the Hawaiʻi Paradise Community Center and Keoneopoko Elementary School remained closed on Friday afternoon.

“According to Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, the damage to roadways have left some communities in Puna isolated,” said Nago in an announcement.

Nago noted that voting for those in the affected areas will be done by absentee ballot.

According to the announcement, Nago will be working closely with the Office of the County Clerk to develop a timeline for when ballots will be provided to voters in the affected polling places. Elections officials noted that votes cast by absentee ballot for these polling places will be counted and included with tomorrow’s election results, in accordance with state law.

With the exception of the two affected polling places, the primary election will move forward across the state will polls set to open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014.