STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1324

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1712

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1712, 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 amend Hawaii's election laws.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Prohibits the Chief Election Officer from contracting with a political action committee or organization created for a political purpose for election related services and duties, including maximizing voter registration and supervising elections;

(2) Creates a misdemeanor offense for the unauthorized printing, distribution, publication, and use of voter registration information acquired directly or indirectly from voter registration affidavits;

(3) Precludes a reciprocal beneficiary of a candidate from serving as a precinct official in any precinct where votes may be cast for that candidate;

(4) Clarifies that the poll watcher appointed by a political party may be present at any time in each precinct or absentee polling place where the candidates of that political party are on the ballot; and

(5) Permits poll watchers to review the poll book, but prohibits the recording of confidential information, including birth dates and social security numbers.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Vice Chair of the Maui County Council and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii. The Office of Elections offered comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that these amendments to Hawaii's election laws are made for purposes of clarity and to ensure consistency in the administration and operations of Hawaii's elections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Modifying the newly created misdemeanor offense by including a reference to section 11-97, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to properly balance permissible uses of voter registration information with the improper uses that are proscribed by this offense;

(2) Deleting language prohibiting the recording of confidential information including social security numbers and dates of birth from poll books based upon the testimony of the Chief Election Officer, who stated that this information is not contained in the poll book; and

(3) Making technical, non-substantive amendments for purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1712, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1712, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair