Elections Commission orders hand count of Hawaii County ballot return envelopes to resolve 19,000‑ballot dispute
Elections Commission · January 8, 2026
After months of public pressure and conflicting records, the state Elections Commission voted to hand-count Hawaii Countyballot return envelopes from the 2024 general election, dividing them into mail‑returned and drop‑box piles; the motion passed on a 6‑2 roll call.
The state Elections Commission voted on X to hand‑count Hawaii Countyballot return envelopes from the 2024 general election to determine the actual number of ballots received. The motion, made by Commissioner Lindsay and amended by Commissioner Ralph Cushni to separate envelopes into two piles—those returned through the U.S. Postal Service and those returned via county drop boxes—passed on a roll‑call vote after extended debate.
The panel agreed to a hand count after months of testimony from residents and civic groups who said existing records did not reconcile county paperwork, postal receipts and the statewide voter registration system. The amended motion directs an independent, observable count of the sealed return envelopes in Hawaii County, with an initial split between envelopes showing postal markings and those without.
Commission members who voted in favor said a physical, observable count is the clearest way to resolve lingering public doubts. “This gets to the heart of what people want: a concrete verification,” Commissioner Andrion said during debate. Those who voted no cautioned about legal constraints and logistics, including whether unsealing materials within the 22‑month retention window requires a court order.
The commission also appointed two commissioners to coordinate logistics for the count and to work with county staff, observers and any independent volunteers or auditors chosen to carry out the work. Chair Curtis said the Office of Elections would facilitate access to preserved return envelopes and provide workspace and staff support.
What passed: the commissionmotion as amended requires a hand count of the Hawaii County return envelopes from the 2024 general election, separately totaling envelopes returned through the mail and envelopes returned via drop boxes. The commission voted to proceed and to seek any necessary legal steps to access retained ballots while preserving chain‑of‑custody seals.
Next steps: commissioners said they would coordinate with county clerks and the chief elections officer about logistics, costs and the timing of the count. The commission discussed whether court approval is needed to unseal envelopes inside the 22‑month retention period and asked the attorney generaloffice to advise.
The vote: Roll‑call on the motion as amended returned six yes votes and two no votes; Commissioners Andrion, Apana, Krishni, Kam, Sebas and Chair Curtis voted yes; Commissioners Dalton and Osterkamp voted no.
The hand count is intended as a targeted, transparent step to restore public confidence and to provide a physical reconciliation between envelopes and the statewide registration entries recorded electronically.
