How to be a candidate for the elections

So you want to be a candidate?

1. Pick up an candidate application or fill out an online form here.

   1. Other forms for consideration:

      1. Affidavits (read Affidavit instructions below)

         1. ‘Campaign Spending Affidavit’

         2. ‘Name Affidavit’

         3. Notarize Campaign Spending & Name Affidavit at the notary at the Office of Elections.

2. Candidate application process

   1. Fill out the application and The Office of Elections will process the application same day

   2. They check if you are a registered voter via the voter registration

   3. They use the info from your application to type up a nomination form that they give to you. The nomination form is for you to go out and get signatures. After you get all the signatures, you go back to office to turn in the nomination form with the filing fee.

3. Collect 15 signature

   1. Ask your friends & family to support your candidacy.

   2. Go out into the community in your district and talk to the neighbors who know you and your work. Ask them to sign.

   3. Signatures must be from registered voters from the district that you represent.

4. Turn in your nomination signatures form.

   1. Turn in your nomination signatures form and the Campaign Spending Affidavit’s receipt, if applicable.

   2. Pay the filing fee.

   3. You are now a candidate for the 2022 elections.

Name Affidavit Instructions

• If you want your ballot name to be different than your legal name, fill out the affidavit

• Notarize the affidavit at the Office of Elections and turn it in.

Campaign Spending Affidavit Instructions

• If you’d like to pay the discounted filing fee to run in the elections, fill out this affidavit. Check the ‘Expenditures Limit Per District Report’ to see the requirements for your district & office that you are running for.

• Submit the affidavit to the Campaign Spending Commission either in-person or via email, they will give a receipt/confirmation to you.

• Present the receipt/confirmation with the nomination signatures and pay the discounted filing fee.

*Remember to bring your ID

Important Resources

Links

Office of Elections

Application form

Forms

• Candidate application: The application to fill out to get a nomination signatures form.

• Nomination signatures form: This form is to collect your nomination signatures.

Affidavits

• Name affidavit: This affidavit is if you want your ballot name to be different than your legal name.

• Campaign spending affidavit: This affidavit is for you to fill out if you want to pay the discounted filing fee.

Sheets

• Candidate Filing Report: This report will tell you who are the candidates in the 2022 elections.

• Expenditures Limit per district Report: This report will tell you the limit for how much you can spend to get the discounted filing fee.

Offices

Office of Elections

802 Lehua Avenue

Pearl City, Hawaii 96782

7:45 AM - 4:30 PM

Except Saturday, Sunday, and State Holidays

elections@hawaii.gov

(808) 453-VOTE (8683)

State and County Offices

Campaign Spending Commission

235 South Beretania Street, Room 300

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Phone: (808) 586-0285

www.ags.hawaii.gov/campaign

They also accept email