The state Office of Elections has assembled a staff of nine in Hilo to administer Tuesday’s general election in Hawaii County, state chief election officer Scott Nago said Tuesday.

Nago had announced on Oct. 2 that the state was taking control of most general election operations in Hawaii County because he felt County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi had not prepared an adequate plan to prevent a repeat of mistakes that happened during the Aug. 11 primary.

Nago said today that Lori Tomczyk of his office will head a staff of eight Hawaii island residents hired for the general election. Nago said those hired have experience with elections and that some are former county clerk’s employees. Tomczyk is head of the state’s ballot operations section and was a monitor in Hawaii County for the primary.

The state will operate out of the State Office Building in Hilo. Nago said. State staff will run the control center and counting center, and manage operations at polling places, including getting registered-voter logs, ballots and other materials there.

The county retains responsibility for voter regstration and absentee voting.