The Hawaii County Elections Office has been out of touch with the state elections office for weeks. It also hasn’t responded to questions from the media. As of Monday, the mystery has only gotten deeper.
The top election officer in Hawaii County emailed the state elections office Monday morning saying she would be willing to have a phone conversation. State Elections Chief Scott Nago had sent Jamae Kawauchi an inquiry last Wednesday after the Hilo Elections Office unexpectedly closed for one day and Kawauchi was not explaining why to the State office nor to the public. Nago also offered his office’s assistance. He said it’s standard practice for all the County Elections Departments to collaborate and work as a team to get the elections done right. But Kawauchi has not been willing to talk with either the State Elections Office nor the other County Clerks for weeks.
But when Nago finally talked with Kawauchi Monday afternoon, she referred all questions to the State Attorney General.
Kawauchi’s direct boss is County Council Chair Dominic Yagong.
Yagong, at a candidate forum in Pahoa Saturday, said “Jamae Kawauchi as County Clerk did meet with the attorney general and with federal authorities She is under the direction of the atty general at this time. I really wish she would be able to share what she’s found with the people of Hawaii County, when you see what she’s trying to accomplish which is simply being thorough and making sure it will be a fair election …it will all play out and you will understand.”
Yagong said any potential fraud would be in connection with prior elections, not this year’s voter registration. Yet after Kawauchi shut down the Hilo elections office, she said it was to compare current voter lists and look for errors.
Kawauchi has not responded yet to requests for basic information such as the number of registered voters by County council District. The Hawaii County attorney says she has not responded to their requests for information either.
Today, Monday, was the first day for “Walk In Absentee Voting,” at West Hawaii Civic Center, 101 Puahi Street in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, and at Waimea Community Center. The walk in voting locations were open and ready for business, and all seemed to be going well. However, she wouldn’t discuss that, either, with State Elections.
Read more about this story and see a copy of Scott Nago’s letter from July 25 at our previous story, http://www.bigislandnewscenter.com/yagong-confirms-federal-involvement-in-possible-election-fraud-probe/
Other previous stories:
http://www.bigislandnewscenter.com/hawaii-news-now-says-possible-fraud-in-hawaii-county-elections-office/
http://www.bigislandnewscenter.com/states-chief-of-elections-takes-hawaii-county-clerk-to-task/
?See Council Chair Dominic Yagong’s comments on the matter at the Pahoa Candidate Forum online at www.bigislandvideonews.com.
