REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPLACE THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ELECTED BY VOTERS, TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS.

SCR115

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

115

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting THE legislative reference bureau to conduct a
study to determine the necessary steps to replace the chief election officer WITH
THE SECRETARY OF STATE, elected by voters, to oversee elections
.

����
WHEREAS, in
1993, the United States Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act,
which mandated that each state designate a chief election official to oversee
elections in that state; and

����
WHEREAS, each
state has enacted its own legislation relating to elections and, therefore, no
two states have the exact same election administration mechanisms, including
election boards or commissions, secretaries of state, and chief election
officers; and

����
WHEREAS, duties
of the chief election official or election board vary, and in some states,
their secretary of state maintains additional duties outside of election
oversight, including but not limited to campaign finance regulation and
licensing in the State; 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; and

����
WHEREAS, pursuant
to section 11-1.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Chief Election Officer is
appointed by the State's Elections Commission and the appointment is not
subject to the advice and consent of the Senate nor is the position elected by
voters; and

����
WHEREAS, forty-seven
states have the position of secretary of state and thirty-three states elect
their chief election official; and

����
WHEREAS, while
decentralized and state-based election systems are critical to adaptability and
fraud prevention, aligning Hawaii's elections procedures with other states
would promote better standardization within the states' voting systems; now,
therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study to assess existing
legal authority establishing and governing the state official responsible for
supervising elections in the State and determine the necessary steps, including
legislation, that would be required to replace the Chief Election Officer with a
Secretary of State, elected by voters, to oversee elections; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report
of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Secretary
of State; Chief Election Officer; Elections; Oversight