RELATING TO ELECTION INTEGRITY.
HB2511 would create a new “Election Integrity” part in chapter 11 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to formalize statewide requirements for voter registration roll maintenance, post-election audits, chain-of-custody procedures, and public reporting. The bill directs the Office of Elections to maintain a centralized voter registration system, reconcile voter rolls on a quarterly basis against death records, address duplicate or inactive registrations to the extent allowed by federal law, and publish annual accountability reports. It also requires a post-election audit after each primary and general election, to be performed by an independent auditor, with audit reports due within 90 days of certification and made public with privacy and security redactions as needed.
The measure further requires uniform statewide chain-of-custody standards for ballots and election materials, including custody logs, dual-control handling, tamper-evident storage, time-stamped transfer records, and rapid reporting of breaches or discrepancies to the Elections Commission. It also expands public access by requiring a website with audit reports, chain-of-custody standards, accountability summaries, and procedures for observing audits and recounts. The bill includes an appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund implementation and states that the Elections Commission may adopt rules to carry out the new part.
HB2511 would amend chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding enforceable statutory duties for the Office of Elections, county clerks, the chief election officer, and the Elections Commission. It would centralize responsibility for voter roll integrity at the state level, require recurring audits and documentation, impose uniform ballot-handling standards, and create reporting and oversight obligations that are not currently spelled out in this form. The bill also expressly subordinates conflicting state laws, rules, or policies to the new part, while preserving federal-law protections for voter access, privacy, and due process.
The bill’s stated purpose and structure reflect a strong pro-transparency, pro-accountability sentiment around election administration. The text emphasizes public trust, auditability, and compliance with federal election law while also stating that lawful voter access must be protected. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call evidence here showing support or opposition beyond the bill’s framing and referral status.
The main points of potential contention are the bill’s expanded oversight of the Office of Elections, its mandatory quarterly voter-roll reconciliation, and its requirement for post-election audits after every primary and general election. Critics could view these provisions as burdensome, costly, or duplicative, especially because the bill also requires a general fund appropriation and gives the Elections Commission authority to require corrective measures. Another likely issue is the balance between election security and voter access: the bill repeatedly bars removal of eligible voters or disclosure of confidential information, suggesting sensitivity to concerns that stricter maintenance and audit rules could be used to suppress registration or invite partisan interference.