Opinion ID: 2604646
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Complaint and the Motion to Dismiss

Text: The plaintiffs were incumbent candidates running for re-election as OHA Trustees in the special election held in conjunction with the general election on November 5, 1996. Akaka lost her seat to Springer by a margin of seventy-two votes, and Kealoha lost his seat to Machado by a margin of 643 votes. [2] On November 22, 1996, they filed a complaint in this court, alleging that, upon information and belief, a number of Hawaiians and native Hawaiians ... who were eligible to vote in the OHA portion of the election[] were never offered or given ballots by which they could cast their votes for the candidates for OHA trustees. Akaka further averred that her own daughter did not receive a ballot until she asked for one and that numerous other eligible voters told Plaintiff Akaka personally that they, too, were never offered [OHA] ballots in other elections as well as this past 1996 [special election] to vote for OHA Trustees, and that had they been offered such ballots, they would have voted for the candidates for OHA Trustees. Akaka also avers that she contacted the Election Office in order to obtain further information regarding this matter, but ... that office ... [did] not respond[] in writing. Because of these alleged irregularities, the plaintiffs raised a civil rights claim under U.S.C. Title 42, Section 1983, and an election contest claim pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 11-172 (1993). HRS § 11-172 provides in relevant part: Contests for cause; generally. With respect to any election, any candidate ... may file a complaint in the supreme court. The complaint shall set forth any cause or causes, such as but not limited to, provable fraud, overages, or underages, that could cause a difference in the election results. The complaint shall also set forth any reasons for reversing, correcting, or changing the decisions of the precinct officials or the officials at a counting center in an election using the electronic voting system[.] The plaintiffs contend that the alleged irregularities warrant relief pursuant to HRS § 11-174.5(b) (1993), entitled Contests for cause in general, special general, and special elections, which provides in relevant part: The judgment [of the supreme court] may invalidate the general, special general, or special election on the grounds that a correct result cannot be ascertained because of a mistake or fraud on the part of the precinct officials; or decide that a certain candidate, or certain candidates, received a majority or plurality of votes cast and were elected. If the judgment should be that the general, special general, or special election was invalid, a certified copy thereof shall be filed with the governor, and the governor shall duly call a new election to be held not later than on the sixtieth day after the judgment is filed. If the court shall decide which candidate or candidates have been elected, a copy of that judgment shall be served on the chief election officer or county clerk, who shall sign and deliver to the candidate or candidates certificates of election, and the same shall be conclusive of the right of the candidate or candidates to the offices. On December 6, 1996, in response to the complaint, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Although the plaintiffs had failed to submit any evidence in support of their contentions, thus rendering the complaint legally insufficient, see section II, infra, we nonetheless denied, in part, the defendants' motion to dismiss. We recognized that the integrity of the elections process is a matter of great public import and therefore granted to the plaintiffs an extension of time to adduce evidence in support of their election dispute claim. Thus, by order dated December 19, 1996 [hereinafter, Order], we: (1) granted the motion in part, dismissing the civil rights claim as well as all claims against the Lieutenant Governor and her office; and (2) denied it in part as to the original proceeding brought pursuant to HRS § 11-172.