Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Committee Leadership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advisory committee elects James Cashel chair, sets outreach and meeting schedule ahead of 2026 elections
Summary
The Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee elected James Cashel chair and Lou Anne Blake vice chair by voice vote, agreed on outreach priorities to boost neighbor-island engagement and practice sessions with ballot-marking devices, and set meeting dates (June 24, Sept. 30, Dec. 9) with virtual meetings during the election run-up.
The Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee voted to fill leadership roles and set an outreach and meeting calendar for the remainder of 2026.
Lou Anne Blake nominated James Cashel for chair; Katie Keim seconded the motion, and Cashel was approved by voice vote. "I would be agreeable to doing it," Cashel said when offered the role. Katie Keim then nominated Lou Anne Blake for vice chair; the nomination was seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee noted Blake’s recent senate confirmation and her experience in election accessibility.
Members emphasized outreach across Hawaii’s neighbor islands and urged that outreach events include hands-on practice with ballot-marking devices. The committee asked Office of Elections staff to gather contact lists for local disability and senior organizations, to work with county elections divisions on outreach, and to ensure post-election surveys for accessible voting are ready by December.
On scheduling, staff proposed three Wednesday meetings at 10 a.m. (June 24, Sept. 30, Dec. 9). After members discussed availability, the office agreed to hold the meetings virtually at 1 p.m. for these dates to accommodate members and election-season staff workloads. The committee also requested that future agendas include a standing public-testimony item for accessibility needs.
Procedural housekeeping included approving the minutes of Feb. 18, 2026 by voice vote earlier in the meeting. The committee adjourned with plans to reconvene June 24 at 1 p.m.
