THE SENATE
S.R. NO.
109
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE RESOLUTION
requesting the governor to appoint an individual from within the office of elections to temporarily serve as the acting chief election officer in the event of a vacancy.
WHEREAS, free, fair, and certified elections are the foundation of a transparent and functioning democracy; 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, whose role is to supervise state elections and perform related duties as provided by law; and
WHEREAS, section 11-155, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Chief Election Officer to compile, certify, and release the election results in state elections; and
WHEREAS, if a vacancy were to occur without a clear interim successor, there would be no one authorized to compile, certify, and release the results of state elections, undermining public trust, creating legal ambiguity, and potentially disenfranchising voters across the State; and
WHEREAS, without a designated backup to the Chief Election Officer, the State risks facing a significant disruption in election administration authority at a critical moment in its electoral process; and
WHEREAS, at a time when election integrity is being challenged nationwide, the State must ensure continuity, clarity, and stability in its election administration; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Governor is requested to appoint an individual from within the Office of Elections to temporarily serve as the acting Chief Election Officer in the event of a vacancy in the following order of succession:
(1) The supervisor of election support services to the extent available to serve, and if not, then;
(2) The general counsel to the extent available to serve, and if not, then;
(3) The supervisor of counting center operations to the extent available to serve, and if not, then;
(4) The supervisor of ballot operations to the extent available to serve, and if not, then; and
(5) The supervisor of voter services to the extent available to serve; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Chief Election Officer.
OFFERED BY:
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Report Title:
Chief Election Officer; Governor; Interim Appointment; Vacancy