Election Observer Bevin Parker Evans Defends Kauai's 2024 Election Integrity

The Elections Commission Meeting held on August 27, 2025, focused on the integrity of the electoral process in Hawaii, with significant testimony from Bevin Parker Evans, an official election observer from Kauai. Evans emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the reported election results, particularly those from the 2024 elections on Kauai.

During his testimony, Evans expressed his opposition to the recommendations made in amendment 3, asserting that he had not observed any issues regarding the chain of custody during the election process. He detailed his extensive involvement in various election activities, including election night counting and audit functions, which he claimed were conducted fairly and rigorously.

Evans highlighted his role as a real-time observer of the voting machine accuracy testing and the security of the voter ballot lockbox system. He noted that he participated in the transportation of voter boxes to and from the election office and observed the counting of ballots at remote drop boxes. Throughout these processes, he stated that multiple observers from different party affiliations were present, ensuring transparency and agreement on the results.

He further asserted that he had witnessed the recording and counting of electronic votes from military and overseas voters, expressing confidence in the methods used. Evans firmly stated that he did not believe there was any corruption in the election system, referencing a conclusion by the Hawaii Supreme Court that supported his stance. While he acknowledged the possibility of isolated human errors in counting, he advocated for improvements in the voting by mail process rather than a complete overhaul of the election results.

The meeting underscored the ongoing discussions about election integrity and the importance of observer testimony in maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. The commission is expected to consider these insights as they move forward with their deliberations on election procedures and potential amendments.