ACCESSIBLE VOTING
The Honolulu Elections Division is committed to ensuring equal access to elections for all citizens. Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of physical, visual, or hearing disability, or an inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter’s choice – other than the voter’s employer, agent of the employer, or agent of the voter’s union (42 U.S.C. 1973aa-6)
Office of the City Clerk, TTY – 808-768-3848 (No voice calls are answered on this number)
Alternate Format Ballot (AFB):
- Voters with a disability may request and receive access to an Alternate Format Ballot.
- This system allows you to download a ballot on a personal computer and mark it privately and independently using your own assistive technology.
- Voters have the option to return their voted ballot electronically or print their voted ballot and return by mail using the return envelope provided in their ballot mail packet.
- Voters may request an Alternate Format Ballot online using the Online Voter Registration or by submitting a paper Hawaii Voter Registration Application form. An email address must be provided when completing the request.
Accessible Voting at Voter Service Centers
- Voter Service Centers on Oahu are accessible to persons with disabilities.
- All Voter Service Centers have ballot marking devices called Verity Touch Writers that offer large print options and audio options in English, Mandarin Chinese, Ilocano, and Tagalog. Each Touch Writer comes equipped with Tactile Switches and Sip and Puff ports.
- Touch Writers do not tabulate or count any votes. After you confirm your selections, you must print your official ballot and take it to the ballot scanner.
- The ballot scanner may alert you to possible errors. Make any corrections or cast the ballot as is. Ballots are securely stored in a locked and sealed ballot box.
- Voter Service Center staff can provide assistance with any part of the process.
- Click here to learn how to use the Verity Touch Writer
Assistance at Voter Service Centers
- A person of your choice may assist you with your ballot, with the following exceptions – you cannot be assisted by your employer, an agent of your employer or an agent of your union.
- Whoever helps you cannot tell you how to mark your ballot or tell others how you voted.
- Braille and large print instructional materials are available upon request.
- Approach Voter Service Center staff if you require a American Sign Language interpreter.
Additional Accessible Voting Information
- Audio – Information about the Voter Registration Application
- Audio – Hawaii Voter Registration Application Summary
- Audio – Information about the Absentee Ballot
- Audio – Hawaii Absentee Ballot Application Summary
Honolulu County Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee
The Honolulu County Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee ensures equal and independent access to voter registration, casting of ballots, and all other county elections division services. The Committee shall meet annually to review election procedures, services, and technology and access to information, and shall make recommendations to the Office of Elections.
Honolulu Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee Meeting 06.14.2024
Honolulu County Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee Meeting 4.26.24
Honolulu County Voters with Special Needs Advisory Committee Meeting 6.30.22