State looks at voting status of its chief election officer

The state Elections Commission reportedly will take up the issue of state Chief Election Officer Kevin Cronin's voting status -- a key qualification for his job.

City Clerk Denise De Costa confirmed yesterday that Cronin, a Wisconsin state attorney who was hired in February by the state Elections Commission, was not a registered Hawaii voter until Friday.

State law states: "The person appointed to be chief election officer shall be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and a registered voter of the state."

Cronin yesterday declined to discuss his voter status except to say that the Elections Commission would take it up at their Thursday meeting.