HONOLULU — Hawaii elections officials are reporting that 46 percent of the ballots in the special election for Hawaii's congressional race have been returned.

Office of Elections spokesman Rex Quidilla said Wednesday an estimated 146,000 ballots have been returned out of the 317,337 that were sent voters in the all-mail special election for the vacant 1st Congressional District seat.

Meanwhile, the three leading candidates on Wednesday were canvassing neighborhoods and waving signs at busy intersections, hoping to prod a few more voters to return their ballots.

Democrats Colleen Hanabusa and Ed Case visited several businesses in Honolulu's Chinatown and Kaimuki areas, respectively.

They and Republican Charles Djou are scheduled to sign-wave later Wednesday.