‘Widespread’ election errors feared

By TOM CALLIS

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Hawaii County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi noted a series of blunders during the primary election while addressing the County Council on Monday: misdelivery of election materials, voting equipment malfunctions, and incorrectly programmed phones at polling locations.

But what led to the errors, leading to delayed voting and confusion on the Big Island on Aug. 11, remained a bit more elusive.

The embattled clerk, who highlighted mistakes made by staff during her presentation and pointed a finger or two at the state Office of Elections, didn’t have those answers beyond describing them as being “rooted in accident and mistake.” Kawauchi said providing more information would take further research, and didn’t have details on how that would be done.

“I’m concerned of it being so widespread that it warrants further investigation,” she told reporters.

Kawauchi denied that her office being short staffed or lacking election experience had anything to do with the problems, though it appeared that improper training may have been a culprit.

Deputy Clerk Steve Lopez testified that he had little training or direction going into the election, which saw several polling places open late due to the misdelivery of election items.

Several misdelivered precinct cans were traced back to the West Hawaii Civic Center, a distribution point to which Lopez was assigned.

Lopez, who referred to himself as a scapegoat, said he didn’t receive any guidance on his election day duties until the day before, and that he received little help.

“How could anyone believe that an inexperienced and untrained manager would be responsible for such a complex operation?” he asked.

Some election volunteers also commented on disorganization on election day.

Dan Lindsay, a volunteer at Hilo High School, said the chairperson’s envelope was delivered empty and that polling workers had trouble getting help from the elections center.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say this, but this was the most fouled up election I have ever been involved with,” he said.

Some commenters gave their support for Kawauchi.

“I felt like she was making a good effort in what was a difficult situation,” said David Ross, a Kona volunteer.

“It appears she has our best interest at heart.”

The relationship between Kawauchi and the state elections office continued to sour Monday.

In her report, Kawauchi said she identified several issues with the state office in September 2011, involving planning, communication, and listening to input.

It is those issues, that she said, helped create the problems Hawaii County faced on election day.

But during a press conference, Kawauchi had trouble explaining how those concerns led to the election day errors, including the misdelivery of election materials and trouble programming phones.

“If we’re going to look at accountability, they should take partial responsibility for the fact that our phones didn’t work,” she said.

Scott Nago, state chief elections officer, noted in a phone interview that the state provides the phones but he added it’s up to the counties to program them unless they ask the state to do it for them.

Kawauchi didn’t contact the state early enough for them to do that, he said.

“Her planning wasn’t all that great,” the elections chief said.

Kawauchi and several council members also criticized the state office for taking elections documents from the county.

Nago said the state office, with help from Kawauchi’s staff, took record books for polling places Aug. 14 after the clerk was unable to tell them which polling places opened late. The state used the record books for its own investigation of the mishaps, which it released last Thursday.

The report noted 13 polling places opening late, some by 90 minutes. Kawauchi’s report, finished Sunday, noted 14 delayed openings, with six late by at least 29 minutes.

Kawauchi said she was not made aware that the records were taken, and added she could no longer vouch for their security. She said she reported the issue to the state Attorney General’s Office.

Nago disputed that account and said Kawauchi consented to them taking the documents, which he said belong to the state.

“I told her we were taking the record books and she said OK,” said Nago.

Kawauchi said she was appalled by that statement.

“I completely deny that,” she said.

The clerk over the weekend wrote to Gov. Neil Abercrombie asking that elections be overseen by the state Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

She made the request after Nago released his report last week heavily critical of Kawauchi.

The clerk called it personal and biased. She noted that she was not notified an investigation was under way and wasn’t given a copy.

Nago said he didn’t know why a copy wasn’t sent to her.

“I haven’t gotten a copy of her report either,” he added.

On Monday, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz responded by saying any changes would have to be made by the state Legislature.

“Now is not the time for blame-shifting,” he added in a press release. “Now is the time to focus on solving the problem at hand.”

That also appeared to be the focus of County Council, which ended the approximately five-hour meeting with a call for unity.

“We need to move forward in a positive way,” said Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, adding the county needs to make sure the same problems don’t happen during the Nov. 6 general election.

He said he will request a meeting with the Attorney General’s Office, state elections office, Schatz, Kawauchi and the council to work out a solution.

“We are all aware that mistakes were made,” Yagong said. “We need to make sure that those mistakes don’t happen again.”

Other council members concurred.

“To me, we need to move on,” said Councilman Dennis Onishi, “or we are just going to be hitting this bag on and on.”

Councilwoman Brenda Ford also had a few nice words for Kawauchi, noting in particular the thousands of incomplete addresses on voter registrations that she corrected.

“I think you guys were up against the wall and I think you did a tremendous job,” she said.

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.