HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The mayoral race for the Big Island is heading to the general election with incumbent Mitch Roth and Dr. Kimo Alameda on the ballot, after numbers stayed largely the same after the second printout.
One thing to note, but likely wonʻt add too much, is that the second printout did not include votes from the Kona voter service center after a transmission failure. Those votes are being driven in.
"I feel good. Team has worked really hard and I give a lot of credit to our team campaign. I give a lot of credit for our county, for the workers out there. Weʻve been doing a lot of work," Roth told KHON2. "At the end of the day itʻs not about being popular, itʻs about getting stuff done and weʻve been doing amazing stuff."
First-time political candidate, Dr. Kimo Alameda has the second highest percentage with 26.9% of votes.
"I donʻt wanna count my eggs before they hatch but I think I feel pretty good," Dr. Alameda told KHON2, "You know there is another printout but statistically, it looks like itʻs gonna go to the general so Iʻm very happy for our supporters and the communities that Iʻve spoken to."
KHON2 was at the voting centers in Hilo and saw a good turnout with Hawaii County having received the most votes of all the neighbor islands.
Also on the ballot, former candidate for Lt. Gov, Junior Tupaʻi who is also a pastor in Hilo. There is also Hilo businesswoman and Hawaii United Way Chair Bree Kobayashi along with Daniel Cunningham, Kavin Kahikina and Yumi Kawano.
If a candidate receives 51% of the vote, they could win tonight. If that does not happen then the two candidates with the most votes will move on to the general election ballot in November.
The Hawaii County Clerk, Jon Henricks reminded voters, "Everything stops at 7, so if youʻre at the dropbox at 7 at that last second then youʻre okay. But if you come at 7:01, itʻs going to be locked and secured for that purpose and same here if youʻre in line to vote at 7 youʻre fine."