HONOLULU, HI — PILF has challenged Hawaii’s restrictive voter roll access policies and filed a brief urging the U.S. District Court to issue a preliminary injunction that would compel the state to comply with federal law and provide access to its voter list.
The case centers on Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which mandates states must make their voter registration records, including list maintenance data, publicly available for inspection. PILF argues that Hawaii’s interpretation of state law unlawfully limits access to the voter roll by denying access to the statewide voter file, as well as demanding requestors to demonstrate an election of governmental purpose. Hawaii requires requestors to seek parts of the voter file from each county clerk who may arbitrarily deny the request.
“Hawaii is violating federal law, and they know it,” said J. Christian Adams, President of PILF. “You’re forced to chase records across four counties, none of which have the full statewide file. That’s not transparency. That’s obstruction.”
The brief points out that 46 states and the District of Columbia allow broader access to their voter lists, while Hawaii is among a tiny minority actively restricting it.
PILF also argues that Hawaii’s voting record practices are inconsistent and arbitrary. While the state restricts access to the public, it freely provides the same voter data to political parties and other favored entities, further undermining its legal position.
Citing prior court rulings and federal law, the brief asserts that the NVRA overrides conflicting state laws and that timely relief is crucial to prevent further violations of federal transparency requirements. The brief emphasizes that the harm to public oversight is ongoing and irreparable without court intervention.
Contact:
Douglas Blair
dblair@publicinterestlegal.org
503-956-9899