STAND. COM. REP. NO.  979-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2541

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2541, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate participation in elections by:

 

     (1)  Requiring all elections, beginning with the 2020 primary election, to be conducted by mail; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the Chief Election Officer or County Clerk to allow any election prior to the 2020 primary election to be conducted by mail, in whole or in part, using the procedures and facilities specified in the measure.

 

     The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk of the County of Kauai, Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii, Office of the County Clerk of the County of Maui, Office of the City Clerk of the City and County of Honolulu, Common Cause Hawaii, Young Progressives Demanding Action - Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawaii, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  An individual testified in opposition.  The Office of Elections, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and two individuals provided comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2541, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair