Hawaii considers May special election for retiring Rep. Abercrombie's seat

The special election to fill the remainder of Rep. Neil Abercrombie's (D-Hawaii) term is expected to be held in May, according to state election officials.

Abercrombie, who's leaving Congress to focus on his gubernatorial campaign, announced Monday that he planned to resign on Feb. 28. His office had previously said the end of January would mark his departure.

At a briefing Monday, Hawaii interim elections chief Scott Nago told the state Senate Ways and Means Committee that he would try to hold a special election on May 1. Nago said his preference is for an all-mail vote with some walk-in sites available for people with disabilities.

Funding the special election had been an issue for the cash-strapped state, but Nago said Monday he plans to ask the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for federal election money to pay for the May vote. If federal dollars are unavailable, Nago said he will seek state money, possibly through an emergency appropriation. He was confident the state could organize a special election for May. "I believe we can," Nago said.

Former Rep. Ed Case (D), state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa (D) and Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou (R) are all running in the "winner-take-all" election.