STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1590

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 287

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 287, S.D. 2, 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 establish an election by mail program and gradually convert all elections conducted in the State to mail-in elections by:

 

(1)  Requiring the Office of Elections to implement elections by mail in a county with a population of less than 100,000, beginning with the 2016 primary election; in each county with a population of less than 500,000, beginning with the 2018 primary election; and statewide, beginning in 2020;

 

(2)  Providing places of deposit for personal delivery of mail-in ballots and voter service centers in each county to remain open on the day of election to receive personal delivery of absentee, permanent absentee, and mail-in ballots, allow voters with special needs to vote, and provide other services; and

 

(3)  Appropriating funds for the implementation and administration of the election by mail program.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Disability and Communications Access Board; Common Cause Hawaii; and several individuals supported this measure.  An individual opposed this measure.  The Office of Elections; Office of the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii; Office of the County Clerk of the County of Maui; Office of the County Clerk of the County of Kauai; Office of the City Clerk of the City and County of Honolulu; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; and two individuals commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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 S.B. No. 287, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 287, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair