State Elections Office Taking Over Big Island Polls

Elections officials statewide have been fretting over how to cope with Jamae Kawauchi, the Big Island elections clerk who many say was responsible for botched elections operations on primary day.

Her mismanagement led to the delayed opening of 13 Hawaii County polling places on Aug. 11.

State elections officials were unable to take over — something that many feared could result in another snafu on the day of the general.

But today Hawaii Chief Election Officer Scott Nago said his office will run Big Island polls Nov. 6 and take over the county’s responsibilities, according to the AP.