THE SENATE
S.R. NO.
108
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE RESOLUTION
requesting THE legislative reference bureau to conduct a study to determine the necessary steps to replace the chief election officer WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, elected by voters, to oversee elections.
WHEREAS, in 1993, the United States Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act, which mandated that each state designate a chief election official to oversee elections in that state; and
WHEREAS, each state has enacted its own legislation relating to elections and, therefore, no two states have the exact same election administration mechanisms, including election boards or commissions, secretaries of state, and chief election officers; and
WHEREAS, duties of the chief election official or election board vary, and in some states, their secretary of state maintains additional duties outside of election oversight, including but not limited to campaign finance regulation and licensing in the State; and
WHEREAS, in Hawaii, article IV, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution, requires the Legislature to provide for a Chief Election Officer of the State; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 11-1.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Chief Election Officer is appointed by the State's Elections Commission and the appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate nor is the position elected by voters; and
WHEREAS, forty-seven states have the position of secretary of state and thirty-three states elect their chief election official; and
WHEREAS, while decentralized and state-based election systems are critical to adaptability and fraud prevention, aligning Hawaii's elections procedures with other states would promote better standardization within the states' voting systems; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study to assess existing legal authority establishing and governing the state official responsible for supervising elections in the State and determine the necessary steps, including legislation, that would be required to replace the Chief Election Officer with a Secretary of State, elected by voters, to oversee elections; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.
OFFERED BY:
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Report Title:
Secretary of State; Chief Election Officer; Elections; Oversight