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Hawaii Elections Commission asks legislature to order auditor review of 2024 results, expands request statewide
Summary
After hours of public testimony and debate, the Elections Commission voted to ask the Legislature to direct the state auditor to perform an independent audit of the 2024 election processes first for Kauai and then for the entire state; the panel also voted to request county receipts from USPS for ballot mailings.
The Hawaii State Elections Commission voted Thursday to ask the Legislature to direct the state auditor to conduct an independent review of the 2024 general election processes after extensive public comment and debate. The commissioning motion first directed the Legislature to request an audit focused on Kauai and the Office of Elections; commissioners later expanded that request to cover all counties.
The action follows months of reports from the commission’s permitted-interaction groups and dozens of public speakers who urged a wide-ranging, independent audit, citing concerns about chain of custody, reconciliation between county and state records and gaps in documentary evidence. The commission also voted separately to ask the Office of Elections to obtain from Hawaii County and provide to the commission copies of U.S. Postal Service business-reply-mail (BRM) receipts and related accounting for ballots the county received during the 2024 general election.
Why it matters: Commissioners and members of the public said the audit is necessary to restore public confidence after reports that county reported ballot-envelope totals did not align with state-scanned ballot totals. Public commentators and some commissioners urged a broad audit that would examine how ballots and records moved from counties to the statewide systems and whether required records were maintained and made available for independent review.
What the commission voted - Refer Kauai matter to state auditor: The commission approved a motion to refer its earlier Kauai-focused finding to the Legislature with a request that the Legislature direct the state auditor to conduct an independent audit. (Motion carried in recorded roll call.) - Expand to statewide audit: After discussion the commission approved a motion to expand the referral so the requested audit would cover all counties statewide, not just Kauai. (Motion carried in recorded roll call.) - Request USPS receipts from Hawaii County: The commission approved a motion asking the Office of Elections to obtain from Hawaii County — and provide to the commission before the next meeting — the complete set of U.S. Postal Service business-reply-mail receipts and accounting for all mail ballots received during the 2024 general election.
What commissioners and staff said: Supporters said an independent audit by the state auditor would be the appropriate, nonpartisan mechanism with the authority and staffing to examine records statewide. Commissioner Dylan (permitted-interaction group chair) said independent verification was necessary because “it is not possible for a person to verify his own work except to his own satisfaction.” Several commissioners and members of the public urged a broad audit and said limited, internal reviews would not satisfy the community’s need for independent verification.
Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago told commissioners the Office of Elections does not oppose an audit and said the office would help provide records. Deputy Attorney General Jordan Chang advised the panel on legal limits to disclosure and on how the auditor is engaged (the state auditor operates under legislative authority).
Public testimony: More than 60 members of the public spoke during two extended public-comment periods. Speakers included election observers, party officials and civic groups. Requests ranged from an immediate out‑of‑state independent audit to returning to single‑day, in‑person, paper ballots counted at precincts. Several testifiers urged that any audit be demonstrably independent of state election officials and the Office of Elections.
Context and immediate next steps: Commissioners asked staff to include the audit request in a formal communication to the Legislature so the state auditor can consider scope, feasibility and resources. The motion to expand the audit statewide will go with the request. The commission also asked the Office of Elections to seek the county USPS BRM receipts and provide them to the commission before the next scheduled meeting so commissioners can examine the documentary trail that public testimony identified as missing or inconsistent.
Quotes - “It is not possible for a person to verify his own work except to his own satisfaction,” said Commissioner Dylan, arguing for an independent examination. - “If the Office of Elections truly wants to build trust, it must stop hiding reports and provide a way for observers and commissioners to verify records, not just take their word for it,” Commissioner Ralph Cushni said during debate.
Ending: The commission scheduled follow-up discussion and any decision-making about audit scope and next steps for a future meeting, after staff provide the county postal accounting records and the Legislature and state auditor address the commission’s referral request.
