Commission votes to add Deputy AG Ching’s opinion to April 1 minutes after public pressure

The Hawaii Elections Commission on May 6 approved an amendment to the written minutes of its April 1 meeting to add Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Dang Ching’s opinion on the 22-month rule and auditing procedures.

After public testimony urging the commission to preserve and correct the official record, a commissioner moved to amend the April 1 minutes to include DAG Ching’s written opinion. The amendment drew debate over timing and whether the opinion had already been posted to the Office of Elections website. Staff told the commission that the opinion had been added to the February 4 minutes and that a link had been updated on the EC page.

The commission took a roll-call vote on the amendment; six commissioners voted in favor and two opposed. The chair then called for approval of the April 1 minutes as amended and the motion passed.

Why it matters: Public speakers and some commissioners characterized the omission as more than clerical — they said it represented a failure to carry a prior vote forward and undermined the commission’s accountability. Supporters of the amendment argued publishing the DAG opinion promptly allows the press and public to read the written legal guidance the commission relied on.

What’s next: The minutes as amended will be posted to the commission’s public materials; commissioners said they expect staff to complete the edits and provide notice to the public.