How to run in Hawaii, 2028
What it takes to get on Hawaii's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate or President, from the state's election office and laws.
U.S. House
Who can run
- At least 25 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
- Living in the state when elected (the Constitution doesn't require living in the district)
Getting on the Hawaii ballot
| Where to file | State Office of Elections (802 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City) for federal offices; the County Clerk offices in Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties also issue and accept nomination papers for federal offices. Nomination papers can be generated online through the Office of Elections' Candidate System. |
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| When | Nomination papers available from the first working day of February in the even-numbered year (February 1, 2028); completed papers due by 4:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday in June (June 6, 2028). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Submit an Application for a Nomination Paper, receive the nomination paper (in person or printed from the online Candidate System), collect signatures, and file the completed hard-copy nomination paper with its self-subscribing oaths (notarized where a notary is available at the filing location) by the deadline. A candidate files for one office and either one party or as nonpartisan. A 2025 law effective January 1, 2028 allows nomination papers to be filed electronically through an Office of Elections system. |
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| Fee | $75, paid at filing by cash, cashier's check, certified check, or money order (no personal or campaign checks); nonrefundable. Waived for a candidate who files an indigency affidavit with a petition signed by at least 0.5% of the registered voters at the last general election in the district. |
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| Petition instead | Nomination paper signed by at least 25 registered voters of the congressional district. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution
U.S. Senate
Who can run
- At least 30 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
- Living in the state when elected
Getting on the Hawaii ballot
| Where to file | State Office of Elections (802 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City); the County Clerk offices in Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties also issue and accept nomination papers for federal offices. Nomination papers can be generated online through the Office of Elections' Candidate System. |
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| When | Nomination papers available from the first working day of February in the even-numbered year (February 1, 2028); completed papers due by 4:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday in June (June 6, 2028). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Submit an Application for a Nomination Paper, receive the nomination paper (in person or printed from the online Candidate System), collect signatures, and file the completed hard-copy nomination paper with its self-subscribing oaths by the deadline. A 2025 law effective January 1, 2028 allows nomination papers to be filed electronically through an Office of Elections system. |
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| Fee | $75 (HRS 12-6), paid at filing by cash, cashier's check, certified check, or money order; nonrefundable. Waived for a candidate who files an indigency affidavit with a petition signed by at least 0.5% of the registered voters at the last general election statewide. |
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| Petition instead | Nomination paper signed by at least 25 registered voters of the State (HRS 12-5). |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Hawaii's 2028 Senate race
President
Who can run: At least 35 years old; A natural-born U.S. citizen; A U.S. resident for at least 14 years (U.S. Constitution).
Getting on Hawaii's presidential primary ballot
| How | Hawaii does not have a state-run presidential primary. Presidential nominating contests (presidential preference polls or caucuses) are run by the qualified political parties themselves; there is no candidate filing with the state for them. Contact information for the parties is on the Office of Elections' Political Parties page. For the general election ballot, a qualified party files a sworn application with the chief election officer naming its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, stating they are legally qualified and were duly chosen by the state and national party (time, place and manner of selection). |
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| Where | Party-run contests: the qualified political parties. Party nominee application: Chief Election Officer, State Office of Elections. |
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| When | Party nominee application due before 4:30 p.m., September 8, 2028. |
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| Fee | None stated by the Office of Elections. |
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| Petition | None for party nominees. |
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Sources: Presidential elections (elections.hawaii.gov)
Running as an independent in November
| How | Submit an Application for Petition and a notarized Declaration of Intent to the Office of Elections, which then issues the petition. File the signed petition with the chief election officer together with a sworn application naming the presidential and vice-presidential candidates (same information required of qualified parties). Applicants are notified of eligibility or disqualification before 4:30 p.m. on the tenth business day after filing; objections may be filed within five days of that determination. |
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| Where | Chief Election Officer, State Office of Elections (802 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City). |
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| When | Petition and sworn application due by 4:30 p.m., August 9, 2028. |
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| Fee | None stated by the Office of Elections. |
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| Petition | 5,223 signatures of currently registered Hawaii voters (not less than one percent of the votes cast in the State at the last presidential election). A signature may be withdrawn only before the petition is filed. |
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| Also | The presidential and vice-presidential candidates must be named together on the petition application. Names and addresses of four presidential electors, plus a first and second alternate for each (registered Hawaii voters), with signed pledges, are due to the chief election officer by 4:30 p.m., September 8, 2028. Forms: Application for Petition to be a Candidate for President and Vice President; Declaration of Intent to be a Candidate for President and Vice President (notarized); Presidential Elector and Alternate Elector Pledge (all linked from the source page). |
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Sources: Presidential elections (elections.hawaii.gov)
Campaign money
- Once you raise or spend more than $5,000, file a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) within 15 days.
- Your campaign committee then files a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) within 10 days and reports to the FEC.
FEC: registering as a candidate · FEC campaign guides
Checked November 4, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with Hawaii's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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