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Posted: Thursday, August 9th, 2012 8:51 AM HST

Procedures for absentee ballots changed

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Today is the final day of walk-in absentee voting before Saturday’s primary election. The three locations can also be used to drop off absentee ballots as a result of a late policy change. Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, who oversees the county clerk's office, said election workers were instructed July 27 not to accept ballots at the Kona office and at three walk-in election sites in Hilo, Kona and Waimea, but the information only became public on Monday when the county clerk Jamae Kawauchi was asked about it. “The early walk-in voting site at West Hawai`i, Waimea and the one in Hilo are not considered polling places, so we’re not accepting ballots there. So that’s the reason why,” Kawauchi said. That policy was reversed the following day as officials began accepting absentee ballots at the three walk-in voting sites, which Yagong said followed a recommendation by the state Attorney General. Absentee ballots, if mailed, must arrive at the Hilo elections office by Saturday. Before election day, voters can still drop off absentee ballots at the Hilo elections office. On election day, absentee ballots can be dropped off at any polling place. Content for this report was provided by Big Island Video News.