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Imagine how candidates feel waking up Election Day morning.
The many months of stumping and putting their time, money and ego on the line have built to this day. They bear a weight of responsibility to all who believed in them, especially those who toiled on the campaign. In not too many hours, they'll learn if all that sweat and sacrifice pays off.
They may rise hopeful, confident or aware their dark horse runs are about to end. In the old days, Election Day would be spent making one final push with sign waving, speech making and a long night hosting an expensive party at campaign headquarters. There were volunteer get-out-the-vote phone trees and rides for seniors to arrange.
Now, with Hawaii's vote by mail system entering its second election, candidates eat breakfast on Election Day knowing their fates have probably already been sealed. If the primary election goes as the good folks at the Maui County Clerk's Office hope, by Saturday, nearly all ballots will have been received by mail or collected from drop boxes and there will be no late-day surge of in-person voters as there was on the final day of the general election in 2020.
As easy as it is to wax nostalgic about the good old days of going to polling places to do our civic duties and see old friends, the new system is more efficient and ticks a lot of other boxes as we enter our second election during a pandemic. The State of Hawaii was lucky to have its new vote by mail system in the pipeline before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
We miss the hoopla and social aspect of everyone voting in person on the same day, but nothing stays the same. Except maybe for the nerves candidates feel when it goes to the final printout and they have a chance to win. We've watched them pace and try to make small talk, butterflies in their stomachs and hearts in their throats, as they await the result. Word used to come with a phone call or fax from somebody stationed at the county building. Now, printouts arrive instantly on cell phones or are scrolled on TV.
After a long day and arduous campaign, it is over. As they process the news, family, friends and campaign staff converge to either slap them on the back or wish them better luck next time. Some losers are absolutely gutted, but nearly all politicians we've seen on Maui handle their defeat with dignity and class.
Winners know there is little time to celebrate. Their focus must quickly shift to winning the general election in November.
We have some very interesting races to watch, including tight contests for Maui County mayor and Hawaii governor. How do you think those candidates are feeling right now?