Court ruling restores accountability to election oversight in Hawaii
ALEXANDRIA, VA (November 2, 2026) – The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) welcomed a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling ordering the state’s Office of Elections to provide the administrative support required for the Hawaii Elections Commission to fulfill its oversight duties.
The decision follows months of Chief Election Officer Scott Nago unlawfully preventing the Commission from meeting.
PILF filed an amicus brief supporting Elections Commissioners Ralph Cushnie and Tamara McKay, arguing that the Office of Elections cannot prevent the Commission responsible for overseeing its operations from meeting.
On October 30, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that when the Commission lacks a chairperson, any commissioner may request the administrative support necessary to convene a meeting, and the Office of Elections must provide it.
“This is a victory for free and fair elections in Hawaii. Hawaii voters deserve an Elections Commission that can ensure that elections are administered honestly,” said PILF President J. Christian Adams.
The Court’s decision allows the Commission to resume its work and exercise its lawful oversight authority.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) is the nation’s only public interest law firm dedicated wholly to election integrity. The Foundation exists to assist states and others to aid the cause of election integrity and fight against lawlessness in American elections. Drawing on numerous experts in the field, PILF seeks to protect the right to vote and preserve the Constitutional framework of American elections.
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