Candidate filings kick off for most offices

Officials say legal challenge over reapportionment hasn’t caused major problems

More than 20 political candidates statewide were issued nomination papers on Tuesday, the first day candidates could pull and file for the upcoming elections, officials said.

"We can't say for sure if that's busy or not because it is only for statewide and county contests and this year candidate filing opened a month later," said Scott Nago, the state's chief elections officer in an email Tuesday afternoon.

A legal challenge last week over newly drawn-up state legislative districts by the 2021 State Reapportionment Commission has put on hold nomination papers and filing for state Legislature seats and U.S. representative offices. But county contests, including county councils, mayoral offices in Maui and Kauai counties, Office of Hawaiian Affairs seats, U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor are not affected, as these are countywide or statewide offices that are not impacted by redrawn districts.

Nago also said that the Legislature amended Hawaii law to delay the opening of candidate filing from Feb. 1 to March 1 specifically for the 2022 elections because the overall reapportionment plans would be delayed due to the COVID pandemic.

Reapportionment is conducted every 10 years following the U.S. census. A commission of members selected by state lawmakers is tasked with ensuring each political district is created equally using census data.

Last week a group of 11 Hawaii residents filed a petition with the Hawaii Supreme Court challenging the recently adopted reapportionment plans that will alter how some Hawaii residents, including those on Maui, will be represented at the State Capitol. The residents said the plans were unconstitutional as the new State and House districts did not align.

The challenge is against the Reapportionment Commission and its members, the state Office of Elections and Nago.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Hawaii Supreme Court set an oral argument in the case for 2 p.m. March 15.

There will also be a Reapportionment Commission meeting at 3 p.m. Monday via Zoom to discuss the legal challenge.

Both Nago and Maui County Clerk Kathy Kaohu said Tuesday afternoon that they have not seen any real problems resulting from the hold on some filings due to the legal challenge.

Kaohu said she has not received many calls and Nago said he had not received any reports of confusion over the ruling.

But his office on Oahu has received calls asking about the court order and whether the office knows when the order will be lifted.

On Maui, Kaohu said that six candidates filed nomination papers at the County Clerk's Office on Tuesday. Three people seeking state legislative office had appointments of Tuesday but had to reschedule due to the legal challenge.

Candidates need to make an appointment to enter the clerk's office and can only have one other person with them during the appointment.

The appointment system was developed in the 2020 election cycle as the clerk's office remained open while many other government offices shut down due to COVID.

Kaohu said the appointment system was put in as a safeguard for health and safety and has worked well, as large groups of people are no longer coming in with a candidate. In the past, supporters would join candidates to celebrate as they pulled or filed papers.

With the big groups, it was difficult for staff at times to converse and work with candidates on important questions about their candidacy as well as ensure the candidates understood the procedures.

The filing period ends on June 7. Kaohu said that they will accept the nomination papers up to 4:30 p.m. on the deadline and that staff will help process those papers that day even for those who do not have an appointment.

Kaohu said candidates with questions may call their office at (808) 270-7749.

Nago said that while some of the county offices need an appointment to pull or file papers, the Office of Elections on Oahu does not require an appointment.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.