If you want to vote in the Nov. 6 general election, you must register “not later” than Tuesday — or you can wait and register later.

That confusing and seemingly contradictory bit of election law came about when state lawmakers authorized same-day voter registration in Hawaii but never deleted an older provision of the law requiring people to register 30 days before a general or primary election.

So county clerks have announced that Hawaii residents have a Tuesday “deadline” to register to vote — but not really. Voters also will have ample opportunities to do so in the coming weeks.

The state Office of Elections and the county clerks will be conducting drive-through voter registration at various locations where staffers will be on hand to help people register without leaving their vehicles.

Voters also can drop off completed applications at the drive-through locations, where those who have moved or changed their name since the last election can update their registration.

>> On Hawaii island, drive-through operations will be held at Bayfront in Hilo, Walmart in Kona and Malama Market in Pahoa from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

>> On Maui, a drive-through location will be at the Kahului Shopping Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

>> On Kauai, drive-through registration will be at the Office of County Clerk Elections Division from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

>> Oahu drive-through registration will be in front of the Hawaii state Capitol on Beretania Street from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Voters also can register online, by mail, or at their respective county clerk’s offices by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Voter registration forms are available at post offices, public libraries and county clerk’s offices. The form can be downloaded from the state Office of Elections website at elections.hawaii.gov.

Mailed applications will be accepted if postmarked by Tuesday.

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a Hawaii resident and at least 18 years of age. Hawaii law allows for voter pre-registration for people who are 16 years old, but only those who are 18 years of age can vote.

Anyone who misses the Tuesday “deadline” can still register and vote at walk-in absentee voting sites from Oct. 23 through Nov. 3, or on Election Day Nov. 6 at their assigned polling places.

However, elections officials warn that voters who wait until the last minute may experience longer wait times at the polls because they will be required to complete a registration affidavit and elections staff will need to confirm they are at the correct polling place.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 6. For additional information, visit elections.hawaii.gov or call 453-VOTE (8683).