Senator Slom testifies at Election Commission meeting.

Voting Issues Scrutinized at Election Commission Meeting

by Sen Sam Slom, August 26, 2014 (Published to the Hawaii Kai NHB #1 Report) 

The Hawaii State Elections Commission held its post-primary meeting last Friday, August 22 before a packed crowd at the State Office Tower. Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Scott Nago was on the hot seat as a the commission reviewed procedures and troubling issues surrounding this year’s primary election. The public also presented oral and written testimony.

I asked the commission to replace the CEO (as I had in 2012) and fix election procedures to make sure that the integrity of the process can improve by the November 4 general election.

Among the issues that came up in the primary election:

• Change of make-up election from a mail-in process to a walk in process at the last minute on the Island of Hawaii after 2 precincts in the Puna district were closed on election day.
• Late count of 800 “Discovered” Maui ballots from Hana.
• Notification of the make-up election process on the Big Island.
• No accountability for past and present errors in the election process by the Chief Elections Officer.
• Wrong ballots delivered to precincts in 2012.
• No plan B in case of natural or man-made disasters.
• Vote counts prematurely released before voting was done.

After the commission met in executive session, it was noted that the Elections Office would be reviewing their procedures.

Senator Slom’s Testimony (PDF Link – August 22, 2014)

Chief Elections Officer’s Report – (PDF – August 21, 2014)