Hawaii’s 2024 Election results are deemed “unverifiable”, however a potential audit is being sidelined due to budget concerns.
Three Weeks of Silence: Hawai‘i’s Elections Deemed “Unverifiable,” Audit Faces Budgetary Uncertainties
Honolulu, HI – On August 27, 2025, the Hawai‘i State Elections Commission received a report from the Permitted Interaction Group (P.I.G.) that declared the 2024 General Election in Hawai‘i “unverifiable.” Despite a series of alarming findings—including chain-of-custody lapses, withheld records, and miscounts—more than three weeks later, there has been no public response from the Office of Elections, political parties, or elected officials.
What the P.I.G. Found
The report painted a portrait of systemic breakdowns:
- Electronic records cannot be verified. Officials withheld ballot images, reconciliation logs, and audits, releasing only summaries.
- Chain-of-custody broken statewide.
- Hawai‘i County reported 19,042 more ballots than envelopes collected.
- Kaua‘i County altered its records repeatedly, adding 3,004 USPS ballots after the fact with no signatures or explanation.
- Maui and Honolulu provided no usable collection records.
- Public misled. Election websites claimed daily reconciliation and official observation — but investigators found this did not occur.
- Unlawful certification. The Chief Elections Officer certified results without reconciling discrepancies, in direct violation of state law.
- Suppression of oversight. Complaints were buried and communications withheld under questionable claims of privilege.
Commission Response
The Commission voted to seek an independent manual audit of ballot envelopes, USPS receipts, and signatures — a first since Hawai‘i adopted all-mail voting. But motions for stronger oversight, like subpoenaing entry and exit logs for ballot storage, were defeated.
The P.I.G. also recommended terminating Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago and returning to in-person paper voting.
A Critical Caveat: Who Controls the Purse?
While the decision to audit is significant, uncertainty hangs over its execution. Because the Chief Elections Officer controls the agency budget, there is concern that funding, staffing, or resources could be withheld or restricted. Critics argue this represents a conflict of interest: the very official subject to oversight also holds the power to decide how much the audit can cost, how it proceeds, and whether it is adequately resourced.
Commissioner Clare McAdam, also an Auditor for Hawaii County who voted against the audit, raised the issue directly during the August 27 meeting:
“This audit could cost over $100,000 — and who is going to pay for it?”
Her comment underscored the unresolved financial and administrative barriers that could limit the scope or independence of the audit.
The Silence Continues
Despite the seriousness of these issues, political leaders and parties have remained silent. No public hearings have been scheduled, no corrective legislation proposed, and no commitments made to fund or safeguard the audit process.
Why This Matters
Elections are the foundation of democracy. When records are withheld, when chain-of-custody cannot be verified, and when audits depend on the very official under scrutiny, public trust erodes. An independent audit could restore that trust. A compromised one could deepen the crisis.
Below is the final Permitted Interaction Group Report
Final PIG Report 08.27.25 by Joe Ho
The post EXCLUSIVE: Hawaii’s 2024 Elections Declared “Unverifiable” – Potential Audit Stalled Due to Budget Concerns first appeared on Joe Hoft.