Candidates should be able to get recount

On Saturday, Gerald Hagino lost to Robert Bunda (D.-Wahiawa) by only 15 votes, and Aubrey Hidano lost to Rod Tam (D.-Nuuanu) by a mere 29.

Neither of them, however, is allowed to demand a recount because Hawaii law does not permit it.

The way the law is currently interpreted, complaints must be registered with the Hawai`i Supreme Court by either the candidate, a qualified political party, or 30 voters from the same election district within six days after the primary.

Yet in view of the difficulties surrounding the new counting method, Chief Elections Officer Dwayne Yoshina should reconsider his interpretation on the law concerning this matter -- particularly because some poll workers were unfamiliar with proper scanner and ballot box operations. A recount should be given to these candidates, if only for this election.

One clerk who worked on election night 26 years ago, when the state switched to the punch-cards, said the same kind of confusion happened back then as well.

Although directions were printed in newspapers, a more helpful approach would be to have volunteers teach small groups of voters about the voting process.