Ask the Mayor: What’s the Rules for Campaign Attire in the County Building?

Maui County Building. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his staff.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: I went to go pay my water bill recently and saw someone in the lobby of the county building with their candidate’s name on their T-shirt waiting for the elevator. Isn’t that sort of campaigning in the county building banned during election years? I find it offensive personally. 

A: According to the Office of the County Clerk, the “no campaigning” rule you’re talking about doesn’t go into effect until absentee walk-in voting begins, which usually takes place about two weeks prior to the Primary Election on Aug. 11 and the General Election on Nov. 6. However, keep in mind that this year the location for absentee voting has moved to the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center (Wailuku Community Center) so it doesn’t apply to the county building any longer, except for actual dates of the primary and general election that I just mentioned. Those rules state that no campaigning or campaign gear should be visible on the property of the voting locations, so please respect your fellow voter and leave your candidate’s T-shirt at home on those days.

Want to ask the Mayor? Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at [email protected], (808) 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.