STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1255

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1133

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1133, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide for voter registration at polling places on election day; provided the voter can prove residency in the precinct.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Demos, the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and a concerned individual.  The Office of the City Clerk of the City and County of Honolulu, the Office of the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii, and the Office of the County Clerk of the County of Kauai offered comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that election day registration will increase voter participation, especially for voters who have recently moved and for new voters, including those who become motivated to vote during the period leading up to election when awareness of issues is heightened.  This process, however, will place additional responsibilities on poll workers and other elections staff.

 

     Your Committee notes that this measure has an effective date of January 1, 2050, to allow further discussion.

 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Requiring election day registrants to provide separate documentation to prove identity and residency;

 

(2)  Adding a valid United States passport as a document that can be used to prove identity;

 

(3)  Authorizing, in addition to utilizing a "bank statement" to show the voter's current home address, the use of other financial statements such as a credit union statement, credit card statement, or brokerage account statement; and

   

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1133, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1133, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair