Elections Commission votes to require public swearing-in; James Apana takes oath

The Hawaii State Elections Commission voted to require that incoming commissioners be sworn in publicly, and the panel administered the oath to appointee James Apana during its meeting.

Commissioner Ralph Cushni moved that “all election commissioners be sworn in publicly at the start of their term in an open meeting,” and the motion carried after discussion. The newly appointed commissioner James (O'Pana/Apana in the meeting record) raised his right hand and repeated the oath administered by Deputy Attorney General Jordan Chang.

The vote followed comments from commissioners and the public emphasizing transparency for a body that oversees elections. “The oath of office is not a private formality…The public deserves to see us make that commitment openly,” Commissioner Cushni said during debate on the motion.

After the motion passed, Deputy Attorney General Jordan Chang administered the oath: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, and that I will faithfully discharge my duties as an elections commissioner to the best of my ability.” Apana repeated the oath and was recorded as having been sworn in publicly.

The commission proceeded with the meeting after the swearing. Minutes of the session record disagreement about whether other recently appointed commissioners had already taken oaths privately and whether the motion applied retroactively; the panel’s final action was limited to a requirement that future swearing-in occur publicly and to the immediate, public swearing-in of Apana.

The action reflects the commission’s emphasis in this session on transparency at the outset of multiple agenda items that drew lengthy public comment.