Keohokalole and Case spar over voting security and partisanship

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Rep. Ed Case and Democratic primary challenger Jarrett Keohokalole are at odds over the SAVE America Act, a federal bill pushed by President Donald Trump that would require documentary proof of citizenship at voter registration and photo ID at the polls.

Case drew criticism after supporting an earlier version of the bill alongside three other Democrats. That version would have allowed voters without citizenship documentation to register by attesting in writing that they are a citizen — an option already used in Hawaii, where making a false attestation on a voter registration form is a felony.

Case defends his position

Case said the current version of the SAVE America Act lacks that attestation option, which is why he now opposes it.

“We don’t have national standards. And as a result, some states are, in my view, excessive in terms of the requirements. And some states have no requirements,” Case said.

Keohokalole said Case’s vote encouraged election doubts.

“It’s a solution in search of a problem. There is no security problem in our election system,” Keohokalole said.

When asked whether his earlier support for a version of the bill may have undermined public confidence in elections, Case said he has never been a lockstep party voter.

“First of all, I’m not 100% voter with my party. Never have been, never will be,” Case said.

“This has nothing to do with voter suppression. Now, those are fears and there are legitimate fears, and I accept those concerns,” Case said about noncitizen voting.

Keohokalole calls for Democratic unity

Keohokalole argued that supporting any version of the bill was the wrong move.

“I think appeasing Trump, when he’s taking away the right to vote, one of the foundational freedoms in this country, is the wrong thing to do,” Keohokalole said.

He also raised concerns about the broader structure of the legislation.

“Centralizing this state-by-state election system that the founders invented on purpose is the wrong direction,” Keohokalole said.

Keohokalole said Democrats in Congress need to stand together on core party values.

“They fought for workers’ rights, for equal rights, for health care. I think those are the values of the Democratic Party that are not being represented right now, and we need to fight for them up there,” Keohokalole said.

Case said the country needs less ideological rigidity, not more.

“I think one of the things that we need more of in this country is less pure extremism enforced by 100% loyalty requirements to your party, a little bit more constructive analysis and working towards solutions,” Case said.

The two candidates also differ on immigration and the Middle East. Those topics will be covered in upcoming reports.