By: HawaiiHokuNews Staff

The Hawaii Elections Commission convened Wednesday morning via teleconference and in-person session at the Office of Elections in Pearl City to review procedural matters and address public concerns surrounding ballot integrity, meeting transparency, and long-term accountability in state governance. The agenda included follow-ups on the “Permitted Interaction Group” report concerning 2024 ballot custody and administrative oversight. Commissioners also received public testimony calling for modernization of Hawaii’s election process, greater accessibility for disabled residents, and a renewed balance in the islands’ political culture.

Public Testimony Highlight:

Resident PerspectiveResident of Hawaiʻi | Veteran | Mental Health Graduate Student | Behavioral Technician | Community Advocate

“After sixty years of one-party dominance, Hawaiʻi’s democracy has lost its balance. When one side holds power long enough, it stops listening to the people and starts managing them. It’s time for a change—not just of party, but of principle.” In testimony delivered via Zoom, the resident drew parallels between military accountability and civic transparency, urging Commissioners to restore public confidence through specific reforms such as:

1. Real-time ballot barcode tracking
2. Unedited video archives and AI transcripts within seven days of every meeting
3. Independent bipartisan audits of election records Zoom-based voting for disabled and mobility-limited residents with live ID verificationʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi translation and accessibility services

The testimony also linked Hawaii’s stalled Senate Bill 1322 (2025) on mental-health reform to a broader pattern of “laws celebrated but unimplemented,” warning that “a law without timely enforcement is just a press release disguised as progress.” The closing message challenged both the Commission and the community: “Power in perpetuity is not stability—it’s stagnation. Leadership means setting the standard, not lowering it to protect convenience. Accountability must rise higher than party lines.”

Why It Matters:

The Elections Commission serves as the public’s oversight body for Hawaii’s Chief Election Officer and procedures under HRS §11-7.5. Wednesday’s testimony underscored a growing civic demand for transparency and competitive governance in a state long dominated by a single political party.Several attendees and online participants echoed calls for open meeting archives, clearer Sunshine Law compliance, and technology-based inclusion for remote or disabled voters.

Next Steps:

The Commission’s next scheduled session will review recommendations on recordkeeping, digital access, and public-testimony handling. Meeting recordings and minutes are expected to be posted at elections.hawaii.gov.

Call to Action:

Stay informed. Subscribe to Commission updates at elections.hawaii.gov and follow HawaiiHokuNews.org for continuing coverage on election transparency, civic reform, and community testimony shaping Hawaiʻi’s political future.