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.

This Senate resolution asks the Legislative Reference Bureau to study whether Hawaii should replace its current appointed Chief Election Officer with an elected Secretary of State to oversee elections. The study will examine existing laws governing election officials and outline the legal steps needed to make such a change, including any new legislation required. The bureau must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This proposal does not implement the change itself but rather initiates research to determine if and how the current election oversight structure could be altered.