The trial for a former County Council candidate alleged to have voted in the wrong district will start July 11.
The trial for a former County Council candidate alleged to have voted in the wrong district will start July 11.
Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a blogger and former newspaper reporter who unsuccessfully ran for County Council District 5 in 2014, was charged with voter fraud last month following a police investigation into allegations that surfaced during her campaign. She pleaded not guilty Thursday.
County prosecutors allege she illegally voted in a different district in the 2012 elections by changing her primary address on her voter registration affidavit to her husband’s surf shop in Pahoa.
At the time, her Hawaiian Acres home was in Council District 5 while the business was in Council District 4. They also are in separate state House districts.
Edwards Hunt, 39, switched it back to her home address in Hawaiian Acres prior to running for Council, records show.
Her attorney, Brian DeLima, said earlier this month that there is a living quarters in the surf shop and that Edwards Hunt and her family were living there predominately at the time of the alleged violation.
Voter fraud is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine upon conviction.
Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara is hearing the case after Judge Greg Nakamura recused himself.