Bill > SB780

This bill establishes a legal framework for disqualifying candidates from state election ballots based on specific constitutional and statutory provisions, primarily focusing on candidates who have engaged in insurrection or attempted to overthrow the government. The legislation allows for challenging a candidate's inclusion or exclusion from a ballot through a formal process with the state Supreme Court, requiring challenges to be filed at least 57 days before the general election. The bill specifically references Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article XVI, Section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution as grounds for disqualification, which bar individuals who have participated in insurrection or attempted to overthrow the government from holding public office. The legislation provides a mechanism for contesting presidential and vice-presidential electors' nominations if they are deemed disqualified under these provisions, while explicitly noting that the bill does not apply to federal office candidates. The bill aims to codify the state's authority to enforce candidate eligibility requirements, drawing from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Anderson, which affirmed states' rights to enforce such disqualifications for state offices. The legislation also amends several existing statutes to incorporate these new candidate disqualification processes and ensures that election ballots and elector nominations adhere to these new standards.

Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=780&year=2026