Voters are getting misleading advice from the State Office of Elections that could leave some ballots uncounted.

In an ad appearing in prime top slots on local television stations this week, the Office of Elections correctly says the election is on May 22, and then tells voters they must mail their ballots by that date.

But that advice is wrong. Ballots must be received by 6 p.m. on the 22nd to be counted. Ballots mailed on the 22nd are not likely to be delivered on the same day, and that means they won’t be counted.

Their own fact sheet makes this clear.

LAST DAY FOR BALLOTS TO BE RECEIVED (ELECTION ENDS) –
6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2010

It’s an unfortunate error in an already unusual all-mail election.

And the money keeps flowing. An Advertiser story today by Derrick DePledge looks at spending by independent groups, but there’s more.

Candidates have to report last-minute contributions within 48 hours, and those reports keep coming. It looks like Ed Case leads in this area, reporting nearly $60,000 in large contributions over the last ten days, led by $10,000 from the Blue Dog Political Action Committee and contributions from several members of the Case family.

Colleen Hanabusa’s campaign has reported over $50,000 in the same period, led by union PACs and $9,600 from employees or officers of Sandwich Isles Communications and its parent company, Waimana Enterprises.

Charles Djou reports just under $30,000 in late contributions so far, including several from the campaigns of mainland GOP candidates.

The candidates are obviously hoping to increase voter “turnout” in the extended election period, which ends on the 22nd.

CQPolitics.com commented on turnout earlier this week, which topped 30% of eligible voters at that point and is now at 35%, with more than a week remaining.

But much of the uncertainly surrounding this election was also due to the unprecedented mail-in vote for a House race, although the city of Honolulu held two special elections for city council races that implemented such a voting system last year. In those elections, turnout was between 41 percent and 45 percent according to Honolulu Elections Administrator Glen Takahashi.

Here are reports showing when during each election period mail ballots were returned in last year’s two special city council elections.

In both cases, about 20% of all ballots case were received in the last week. This appears to mean that the final push of campaigning and advertising could be crucial in what still appears to be a tight race.