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HRS §11-153

More or fewer ballots than recorded

This section explains what election officials must do when a precinct has more or fewer ballots than expected. They must record the difference on a special form, send it separately, and make a public list. If the difference could change an election result, a contest may be allowed.

everyone

The statute, as written — More or fewer ballots than recorded

(a) If there are more ballots than documented usage indicates, this shall be an overage and if fewer ballots, it shall be an underage. The election officials or counting center employees responsible for the tabulation of ballots shall make a note of this fact on a form to be provided by the chief election officer. The form recording the overage or underage shall be sent directly to the chief election officer or the clerk in county elections separate and apart from the other election records. (b) If the electronic voting system is being used in an election, the overage or underage shall be recorded after the tabulation of the ballots. In an election using the paper ballot voting system, the chief election officer or the chief election officer's designee shall proceed to count the votes cast for each candidate or on a question after recording the overage or underage. (c) The chief election officer or the clerk shall make a list of all precincts in which an overage or underage occurred and the amount of the overage or underage. This list shall be filed and kept as a public record in the office of the chief election officer or the clerk in county elections. An election contest may be brought under part XI, if the overage or underage in any precinct could affect the outcome of an election.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.