STAND. COM. REP. NO. 393

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1736

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1736 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Allow voters to apply for permanent absentee voter status; and

(2) Appropriate unspecified funds to assist with the cost of the technical infrastructure necessary to implement this measure.

The Office of Elections and League of Women Voters of Hawaii testified in support of the bill. The Office of the Governor testified in support of the bill's intent. The Office of the City Clerk and the Chinese Community Action Coalition provided comments on the bill.

Your Committee finds that this bill will increase participation in the electoral process by allowing all voters who cannot vote on election day for various reasons, the opportunity to apply for permanent absentee status.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your

Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1736 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair