Primary election voting is underway

Is it over yet? Election voting, we mean?

No, not even halfway. But if you’re out town on Primary Day (Aug. 9), don’t want to contend with the crowd at the early voting stations and want a mail-in absentee ballot, time is running out.

The official deadline to submit your absentee application to the county clerk is Saturday (download the form at hawaii.gov/elections/ voters/voteabsentee.htm). As long as the application has an Aug. 2 or earlier postmark and you’re registered to vote, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you.

Watch that mailbox, though. You’re going to have to send in the ballot almost instantly. Of course, there’s also early walk-in voting, through Aug. 7. For details about that, see hawaii.gov/elections/voters/abwalk.

Didn’t get your city tax bill? Too bad, you still owe

Speaking of deadlines, there was a legal ad on Wednesday reminding Oahu property taxpayers that the first installment of the current tax bill is due Aug. 20. Those who pay the bill directly (rather than through a mortgage, as many do) are held accountable to that deadline, regardless of whether the bill actually appears in the mail. (To quote the legalese, "non-receipt of a tax bill will not excuse you from being assessed a penalty.") So, folks, be on time, no matter what. If this sounds cold, just remember: These are tax collections we’re talking about.