Civil Beat Staff

Chad Blair

Elections Commission Wants State Auditor To Examine Hawaiʻi’s 2024 Vote Screenshot/2025

Elections Commission Wants State Auditor To Examine Hawaiʻi’s 2024 Vote

The commission also asked the Legislature to consider returning to one-day, in-person voting, and narrowly rejected firing chief election officer Scott Nago.

Look Who’s Talking — Or Not — At Hawaiʻi’s Legislature Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Look Who’s Talking — Or Not — At Hawaiʻi’s Legislature

For some lawmakers, quietly is the most effective way to legislate. Others feel the public should hear exactly where they stand.

Are Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Just Rubber-Stamping Bills Every Session? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Are Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Just Rubber-Stamping Bills Every Session?

A new research tool shows the vast majority of bills pass out of the Legislature with no opposition.

Scott Nago’s Bumpy Ride As Hawaiʻi’s Chief Election Officer Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Scott Nago’s Bumpy Ride As Hawaiʻi’s Chief Election Officer

He’s held the job longer than anyone else in state history and been at the center of controversy nearly every election cycle.

Elections Commission Panel Calls For A Shakeup In How Hawaiʻi Votes Screenshot/2025

Elections Commission Panel Calls For A Shakeup In How Hawaiʻi Votes

The subcommittee wants to end all-mail elections and fire Elections Chief Scott Nago, but it’s unclear whether it has the votes to do either.

Two Members Quit Just Before Elections Panel To Meet On Disputed Vote Count Screenshot/2024

Two Members Quit Just Before Elections Panel To Meet On Disputed Vote Count

One of the departed commissioners was the lead author of an investigation that determined complaints about the Kauaʻi election were valid.

Campaign Reform Is Forcing Lawmakers To Raise More Cash In Non-Election Years April Estrellon/Civil Beat/2025

Campaign Reform Is Forcing Lawmakers To Raise More Cash In Non-Election Years

Joint fundraisers in odd-numbered years are more prevalent than they used to be.

Hawaiʻi Elections Officials Tackle Big Island Ballot Discrepancies Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Hawaiʻi Elections Officials Tackle Big Island Ballot Discrepancies

After finding major discrepancies in how many Kauaʻi ballots were cast, a state commission is looking at the Big Island numbers.

Civil Beat Reporter Honored For Public Service Reporting David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Civil Beat Reporter Honored For Public Service Reporting

Blaze Lovell’s story on pay-to-play politics was part of a New York Times series.