[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6655166,"mediaKeyId","5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3","parentId",5419103,"title","Commission adds signature-verification sensitivity and related audit questions to next agenda after public concern","audioSeconds",725,"startMs",16069000,"endMs",16794000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3&start=16069&end=16794","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3/thumbnail_16069000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655166/Hawaii/Commission-adds-signature-verification-sensitivity-and-related-audit-questions-to-next-agenda-after-public-concern","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655166-64f1ec598a81db1e9077b6220fb80240/orig.mp4?Expires=1770802656&Signature=B9zoYBbCWz09Hdt0RxSl4skw3kFjUog7HEoH1ziQ~Pd7C2wYpjUT0cfrGZk2XXyB7fD0iXBQ6m9o785L5KbjV50b54NLB~VOc2~NE0k-bLkUo6eqmxOaLYX7tuBSmz6KHGhq6OWOf9stXlH0y8OSSznZm5vvvFvDeaaACCjubBUccpex0Ry5h8c6PygIBJwyYCqo-HXicHqfCFt~eeAzrAQsdP8KKFPGo2Ey~vGhLI7Ld2wUezBKeaKz0USDx02S5wYr22DCqMc5yer1J83Uy7a98Ea35M~iucrho~vDJrquLPJfXh01OLuVWvO~Rti9dKVL4dMWBvsG4kRc~jykKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii - Office of Elections","date","2025-07-17T07:47:09.247Z","article","Commissioners voted to add signature-verification settings and the broader question of signature-audit procedures to the next available meeting agenda after multiple testifiers and commissioners urged the commission to clarify how signature checking is implemented.

Why it matters: Witnesses and election observers told the commission they encountered limited or no access to signature-verification activity, lack of observers at critical handling points, and uncertainty about machine settings used to accept or reject envelope signatures. Commissioners said the public needs a clear description of sensitivity settings and whether signature verification can be audited.

What the commission did: A commissioner moved to place the signature-verification sensitivity and the broader signature verification topic on the next available agenda; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. Commissioners said the item should include discussion of the machine sensitivity settings, observers, logs, and whether any audit procedures should compare envelope signatures to registration signatures.

Public testimony highlights: Testifiers including Jennifer Hunt and Jamie Detwiler (observers) described being unable to observe signature-verification work and noted the legal and procedural importance of transparent signature checks. Several testifiers urged the commission to require observers and to obtain signature-setting logs from counties.

Next steps: The commission directed staff to add the item to the next meeting’s agenda and to circulate any available records (signature-setting logs, policy descriptions, and county responses) ahead of the meeting so both commissioners and the public can review them.

Ending: The commission asked that the office of elections and county clerks respond to the request for signature-setting logs and described plans to treat the topic as a formal agenda item with public testimony at the next regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elections Commission Meeting - 7/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Following public testimony from observers who reported restricted access to signature verification and questions about envelope logs, the commission voted to place signature verification sensitivity settings and related audits on the next available meeting agenda.","taxTitle","Office of Elections, Executive , Hawaii","taxId",26065,"location","Hawaii","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6655171,"Public objects, commissioners split; motion to approve March minutes fails after lengthy testimony",2638,2492000,5130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3&start=2492&end=5130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","/articles/6655171/Hawaii/Public-objects-commissioners-split-motion-to-approve-March-minutes-fails-after-lengthy-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655171-894663bf390f6a9c42f0cbaa7abc847f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770802656&Signature=aG-mpuQlvJHUgjK6UFstCkbIfkkyuIc-DXVbUMqEYRuWI-vA1NFpfYxb3BTF3JndHOxg4zYfagD0g2bp6cS-2zCvhECaWVpRgDdRzuiieKDV1D9kVImD1e9seK4I0OgQ4XZsdI-kZlQcLKrmgySBuA9iNUZjGDcoZBZyDJtUcH0bc1Zk1hyOpemEXLBLdyMy55t87iEPAEr06kOCGVeno14GzLLYR~A3H4yJmfz91u70INGR5BnZpUA1l7RAfhLPrXF36V3Qqij1jkXKrdrY-156v5S-A6VAIie9s~5279rIU3osw7ONBCuMcwc7~c6Pvxc-9sjQIeZAW7SKqywm5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaii Elections Commission received more than an hour of public testimony on whether to approve the written minutes from its March 19 meeting. Dozens of testifiers told the commission they would not accept the minutes as written, calling them inaccurate or incomplete, and urged formal investigations and better transparency.

Public testimony: Multiple speakers—individuals and groups including the Ohana Unity Party, election observers and residents—testified during the public-comment portion dedicated to the minutes. Common themes were that minutes omitted testimony, failed to record motions and the public’s concerns, and that the commission’s record-keeping had degraded. Several speakers explicitly said, “I do not approve the minutes.”

Commission response and vote: After public comment the commission took up the motion to approve the written minutes as circulated. The chair called for a roll call. Commissioners recorded votes in the meeting: the motion failed when it did not reach the required majority. The chair announced, “Motion fails. We have 4 ayes, requires 5.”

Why it matters: Approval of minutes is the formal step that records what happened during prior meetings. Several commissioners and members of the public said minutes that do not reflect witness testimony or commissioner motions hinder oversight, frustrate citizens and leave outstanding complaints unresolved.

Quotes: “I disagree with the minutes as submitted,” said Jamie Detwiler during public comment. Another testifier said, “We do not approve fraudulent minutes.” Commissioner Ralph Cushni said during the commission discussion that he would vote against approving the minutes, saying they “do not reflect what happened in the meeting.”

Next steps: Commissioners discussed placing a regular “status of motions” item on future agendas so the commission and public can track follow-through on past motions. The commission also took up later agenda items related to communications and complaints; a separate motion to refer communications and complaints to the Office of Elections for written responses was considered but did not pass at this meeting.

Ending: The failure of the motion leaves the March 19 minutes unapproved; commissioners asked staff and the secretary to provide clearer status reporting on previously adopted motions and to publish correspondence and complaints so commissioners and the public can review them ahead of future meetings.","The commission debated approval of the written minutes for March 19, 2025 after extended public testimony alleging missing content and inaccurate summaries; a motion to approve the minutes as circulated failed on a roll call vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6655176,"Elections commission forms task force to investigate chain-of-custody discrepancies after widespread public testimony",4884,7796000,12680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3&start=7796&end=12680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419103-d4d86eda98d939b6c3c7a742b08b97e3/thumbnail_7796000.jpg","/articles/6655176/Hawaii/Elections-commission-forms-task-force-to-investigate-chain-of-custody-discrepancies-after-widespread-public-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655176-205efa261d36f3d9a5da4d9a56529069/orig.mp4?Expires=1770802656&Signature=H9aX8k8Mw3lnXDa2uG5iOLRIKj-NqdHTxbS92GeKHZnjSNW7SECRZe-ymCBV42hGf1giBUJiBBiGbSnKMMg-c1yxG2XDe2wYywMAtM-Io1WsM1tvNhkHPYvgZ80X4VAb6BEsPaW-E5rEIlhotW--Ek8Z0hbozrbibkXd5ZMYZ-mXzL17w8fpvo6HtrpZYmxTxpnzCdoLGKt845QqTGST~~NZO8dswyc3k5WYXyYSYE9RlUBoW9j-NagJoP9uru6dNjfn4-29caYxvsFunDv3~vv~wSgfh1Wivk9d4E-2pp4ucLpMqr9s6-zDdh3TS6qbnZLW8llJb2v3wSVDlaDmxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaii Elections Commission on Wednesday voted to form a permitted-interaction group to investigate complaints about the chain of custody for ballots, after lengthy public testimony raising concerns about missing documentation and unexplained vote totals. The motion passed on a roll call and the commission named commissioners to the group.

Why it matters: Public speakers and several commissioners said the commission needs an independent review of records and procedures after observers and citizens reported missing chain-of-custody logs and unexplained ballot totals — including a figure of 19,042 ballots cited by a commissioner as a discrepancy between county collection records and statewide totals on the Big Island. Commissioners said the PIG’s work will inform a report to the full commission at a later meeting.

What the commission did: Commissioners voted to form the task force after the chair called for a motion. The motion was seconded and passed by roll call (several commissioners voting yes and one voting no); the commission then discussed membership. Commissioner Dylan Andrian agreed to chair the group at the meeting, and commissioners identified additional members to serve; the PIG will gather materials and report back to the full board for discussion at a future meeting.

Public and commission concerns: Dozens of residents and observers urged a formal review. Speakers described missing or inconsistent county records, limited or blocked observation at signature-verification sites, and asserted that everyday safeguards (signed transfer forms, observers at pickups) were incomplete or missing. Commissioner Ralph Cushni (Cushni) summarized the complaint pattern and called for immediate access to supporting records, saying the public had been “stonewalled.” Several speakers specifically cited alleged disparities on Kauai and the Big Island; Cushni described a 19,042-vote discrepancy on the Big Island and said correspondence with postal authorities and county collection logs have not resolved the difference.

Next steps and limits: Commissioners who voted for the PIG said it should review county chain-of-custody documentation, signature-verification logs and county collection records, and recommend next steps. At the meeting the commission received a related report (a separate item) from a previously formed PIG and agreed to publish and discuss that report at the next regular meeting. Commissioners repeatedly noted that the Elections Commission’s power is largely advisory to the chief elections officer and that some follow-up may require cooperation from county clerks or legal advice from the Attorney General’s office.

Quotes: “We have the evidence. We have the collections evidence from the Big Island,” Commissioner Cushni said during public remarks. Several public testifiers said they would welcome an independent review: “If the investigation comes up that something was done wrong, that’s fine. If it comes up that something wasn’t done wrong, then that’s fine too,” testifier Andy Crossland said.

What’s not resolved: The PIG will determine what records can be obtained and whether the commission needs to pursue subpoenas or other means to secure documentation. Commissioners and public speakers asked for transparency about who holds records and for timely answers to long-pending requests.

Votes and outcome: The motion to form the permitted-interaction group passed on roll call. The commission recorded an affirmative majority and one recorded no vote; the chair announced, “This motion passes.” The commission asked the PIG to report back at the next scheduled meeting so the full body can discuss findings and any recommended actions.

Ending: The PIG’s findings will be posted with the commission’s agenda materials before the next meeting; commissioners said they expect the group to prioritize chain-of-custody documents, postal correspondence, vault or secure-storage access logs and signature-verification material.","After hours of public testimony alleging missing or mishandled ballots, the Hawaii Elections Commission approved a permitted-interaction group (PIG) to investigate chain-of-custody complaints tied chiefly to the Kauai council race and reported discrepancies on the Big Island.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission adds signature-verification sensitivity and related audit questions to next agenda after public concern

Public objects, commissioners split; motion to approve March minutes fails after lengthy testimony

Elections commission forms task force to investigate chain-of-custody discrepancies after widespread public testimony