RELATING TO ELECTION INTEGRITY.

HB2511

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2511

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO ELECTION INTEGRITY
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that public
trust in elections is foundational to representative government.
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Transparent maintenance of voter registration rolls,
auditable election processes, and secure chain-of-custody procedures are
essential to ensuring confidence in electoral outcomes.

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The
legislature notes that the State is subject to federal election law
requirements, including the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993, which require states to maintain accurate,
centralized voter registration systems and to conduct voter list maintenance in
accordance with federal safeguards and due process protections.

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The
legislature also notes that the chief election officer is entrusted with
serving the public interest and administering elections in accordance with the
will of the people as expressed through law, under the oversight and authority
of the elections commission.

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The
legislature recognizes that, although the State conducts elections in
compliance with federal and state laws, gaps remain in the State's election
processes, in terms of voter registration roll accountability, routine audit
practices, uniform chain-of-custody standards, and clearly defined
accountability mechanisms.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to strengthen election integrity in a manner
consistent with federal law by:

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(1)
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Requiring accountability for voter
registration roll maintenance;

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(2)
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Requiring routine and transparent election
audits;

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(3)
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Establishing uniform chain-of-custody
standards for ballots and election materials;

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(4)
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Reinforcing the chief election officer's
accountability to the elections commission and to the public trust; and

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(5)
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Increasing transparency while protecting
lawful voters' access and privacy.

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Part

ELECTION INTEGRITY

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�11-A
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Definitions.
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As used in this part, unless the context requires
otherwise:

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"Audit"
means a post-election examination of voter registration rolls, ballots,
tabulation systems, and chain‑of‑custody documentation to verify
the election results' accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable
law.

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"Chain
of custody" means the documented, continuous control, transfer, handling,
storage, and security of ballots, election equipment, and election materials
from creation through final certification.

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"Election
materials" means ballots, ballot envelopes, tabulation media, memory
devices, seals, logs, and any records related to holding an election.

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"Independent
auditor" means a qualified individual or entity having no financial,
political, or operational affiliation with the office of elections or any
county election office within the previous five years.

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�11-B
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Centralized voter registration
system.
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The office of elections
shall:

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(1)
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Establish and maintain a statewide voter
registration database that shall be known as the centralized voter registration
system; and

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(2)
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Maintain the centralized voter registration
system in a manner consistent with federal law and the purposes of this part.

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�11-C
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Voter registration rolls;
accountability.
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(a)
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The office of elections and the chief
election officer shall be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, maintenance,
and integrity of the State's centralized voter registration system, regardless
of any administrative delegation to the county clerks.

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(b)
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All voter registration roll maintenance
activities, including activities relating to notice, timing, and due process,
shall be conducted in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of
1993.

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(c)
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The office of elections shall:

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(1)
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On a quarterly basis, reconcile the statewide
voter registration system against death records, review voter address records, and
check for duplicate registrations or inactive voters, to the extent authorized
under federal law;

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(2)
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Maintain written documentation of the offices reconciliation
procedures and findings;

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(3)
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Publish an annual voter registration roll
accountability report for public review and submission to the election commission;
and

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(4)
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Take any other actions necessary for the
purposes of this part.

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(d)
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County clerks shall provide to the office of
elections any requested data, records, and cooperation necessary for the
administration of this part.

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�11-D
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Post-election audits; requirements.
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(a)
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The
office of elections shall conduct a post-election audit following each primary
and general election.

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(b)
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Each post-election audit shall, at minimum:

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(1)
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Verify and reconcile voter registration rolls;

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(2)
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Reconcile ballots issued, cast, counted, and
rejected;

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(3)
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Review vote tabulation processes;

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(4)
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Examine chain-of-custody documentation; and

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(5)
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Review compliance with the Help America Vote
Act of 2002, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and any other
applicable federal and state laws.

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(c)
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Each post-election audit shall be conducted by
an independent auditor selected pursuant to chapter 103D.

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(d)
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Within ninety days of the certification of
each election, the corresponding audit report for that election shall be
completed and transmitted to the elections commission.

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(e)
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Post-election audit reports shall be made available
to the public; provided that information may be redacted as necessary to
protect voter privacy and ensure election security.

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�11-E
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Chain-of-custody standards.
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(a)
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The
office of elections shall adopt uniform, statewide chain-of-custody standards
applicable to all elections.
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The
standards, at a minimum, shall require:

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(1)
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Written custody logs for each transfer of
election materials;

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(2)
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Dual-control procedures requiring at least two
authorized individuals for handling or transferring election materials;

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(3)
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Secure storage utilizing tamper-evident seals;

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(4)
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Time-stamped documentation for all custody
changes; and

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(5)
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Retention of election records in accordance
with title 52 United State Code section 20701 and all other applicable
federal laws.

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(b)
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Any breach, loss, or discrepancy involving
election materials shall be documented and reported to the elections commission
within twenty-four hours of discovery.

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�11-F
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Public access.
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The office of elections shall maintain a
publicly accessible website that contains:

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(1)
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Post-election audit reports;

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(2)
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Chain-of-custody standards;

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(3)
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Annual voter registration roll accountability
summaries; and

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(4)
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Procedures for public observation of audits
and recounts.

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�11-G
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Compliance with federal election
law.
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(a)
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All actions taken pursuant to this part shall
be implemented in a manner consistent with the Help America Vote Act of 2002,
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and any other applicable federal
election law.

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(b)
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Nothing in this part shall be construed to:

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(1)
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Prohibit lawful voter registration activities that
are protected or required by federal law;

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(2)
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Authorize the removal of eligible voters from
voter registration rolls in violation of federal law; or

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(3)
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Limit lawful voter access guaranteed by
federal law.

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�11-H
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Accountability of the chief
election officer.
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(a)
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The chief election officer shall administer
elections in accordance with state and federal law and under the oversight and
authority of the elections commission, consistent with the public trust placed
in the office of elections.

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(b)
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The chief election officer shall:

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(1)
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Provide timely, complete, and accurate
information to the elections commission regarding voter registration roll
maintenance, audits, and chain-of-custody compliance;

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(2)
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Implement directives, policies, and corrective
actions adopted by the elections commission;

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(3)
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Appear before the elections commission upon
request to address matters concerning election integrity, transparency, or
compliance; and

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(4)
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Ensure that the administrations of elections
reflects the intent of the legislature and the rights of the electorate.

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(c)
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Failure to comply with this part or with
directives of the elections commission may constitute grounds for corrective
action, formal findings of noncompliance, or further action as authorized by
this title.

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�11-I
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Elections commission; authority.
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The elections commission may review
compliance with this part and may require corrective measures where
deficiencies are identified.

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�11-J
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Supremacy of this part;
limitation.
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(a)
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No state law, administrative rule,
regulation, or policy shall contradict this part.
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In the case of a conflict, this part shall
prevail.

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(b)
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This part shall not be construed to:

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(1)
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Create a private cause of action;

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(2)
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Limit any existing legal remedy otherwise
provided by law, except to the extent the legal remedy conflicts with this part
as described in subsection (a);

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(3)
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Permit partisan interference in election
administration or diminish the independence of the elections commission; or

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(4)
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Authorize the disclosure of confidential or
personally identifiable voter information.

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�11-K
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Rules.
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The elections commission may adopt rules
pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this part."

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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the administration
of the statutory part established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of
this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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In codifying the new sections added by
section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate
section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this
Act.

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SECTION
5.
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This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED
BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Elections
Commission; Chief Election Officer; Voter Registration Roll Integrity; Administration;
Appropriation

Description:

Requires
voter registration roll maintenance and election audits.
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Establishes uniform chain-of-custody
standards for ballots and election materials.
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Appropriates moneys.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.