THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

114

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the senate committee on judiciary and labor to convene hearings to determine the rationale for selecting the new voting system and assess the preparedness of the office of elections for the 2008 elections.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Office of Elections intends to implement a new statewide voting and vote counting equipment system in time for Hawaii's 2008 Primary Election, to be held on September 20, 2008; and

 

     WHEREAS, the announcement of the selection of a new voting and vote counting equipment system was not made until January 31, 2008; and

 

     WHEREAS, citizens have voiced concerns that it will be very difficult to effectively install and implement a new voting system in time for the 2008 elections; and

 

     WHEREAS, the cost of the new voting system was offered at $52,875,944, the highest bid among the four submitted, and the lowest bid was offered at $18,126,865; and

 

     WHEREAS, the new Hawaii Chief Election Officer officially began his duties and responsibilities on February 1, 2008, the day after the selection of the new voting and vote counting equipment system was announced; and

 

     WHEREAS, the new Chief Election Officer does not have recent or significant experience in managing or implementing statewide elections; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor is requested to convene hearings to determine the rationale for selecting a voting system that is approximately $34 million more than the lowest bid submitted and to also assess the preparedness of the Office of Elections for the 2008 elections; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the assessment of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor include the following:

 

     (1)  The readiness of the Office of Elections to implement the new voting and vote counting equipment system;

 

     (2)  The legitimacy of concerns surrounding the technology to be employed by the new voting and vote counting equipment system; and

 

     (3)  The ability of the new Chief Election Officer to implement the new voting and vote counting equipment system and effectively run and manage the election; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor, and the Chief Election Officer.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Judiciary and Labor Committee; Office of Elections