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Nearly 1,000 voters cast ballots Monday on Oahu as walk-in absentee polling sites opened.
In all, 953 people cast ballots in the primary election at two walk-in sites on Oahu, said Glen Takahashi, elections administrator for the City and County of Honolulu.
That number is slightly down compared with the 2012 primary, when 983 ballots were cast at three walk-in sites on the first day they were open. In addition to Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale, a site also was set up at Pali Golf Course two years ago. The site was shuttered this year as the city shifted resources to handle more mail-in ballots.
Mail-in absentee ballots were sent to voters last week. As of Monday 35,761 of the roughly 113,000 ballots that were mailed had been returned, Takahashi said.
Voters have until Saturday to request an absentee ballot. Another 9,000 ballots are expected to be mailed out in the coming week.
Walk-in absentee voting sites are open through Aug. 7 on all islands. Hours vary at the different sites, but most are open Monday through Saturday.
The primary is on Aug. 9.
Among those casting votes Monday was U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, hoping to win election to the seat to which he was appointed, and state Rep. Mark Takai, aiming for election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Both voted with family members at Honolulu Hale.
Schatz, who was appointed to the Senate seat following the December 2012 death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, is facing a challenge from U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa for the final two years of the term.
Takai, who went to the polling place with his wife and their two children in tow, is in a crowded Democratic primary field running for Hanabusa’s seat in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, representing urban Oahu. Others in the race are state Sens. Donna Mercado Kim and Will Espero; Honolulu City Councilmen Ikaika Anderson, Stanley Chang and Joey Manahan; and human rights advocate Kathryn Xian.
Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou is expected to win the Republican primary election for the seat.
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Craig T. Kojima / ckojima@staradvertiser.com