Hawaii Election Sees Record-Low Voter Turnout

Nov 04, 2026

Hawaii's latest election drew a much smaller crowd of voters than usual, a sign of voter fatigue that's bad news for incumbents and close races alike.

  • Turnout dropped sharply, with about 110,000 fewer votes cast than in the 2022 election.
  • Only about a third of eligible voters showed up this time, down from nearly half in 2022.
  • Some races are extremely tight, so the lower turnout could easily decide close contests.
  • Republicans lost significant ground in the state house, shrinking from 10 seats to around four, while the state senate balance stayed the same.
  • A couple of previously defeated candidates are set to return to the legislature.

Outlook: With Republicans now holding a much smaller minority in the state house, expect Democrats to have an easier time passing their agenda in the next legislative session.

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