STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2313

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2137

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2137 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize election officials to establish additional voter service centers.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections; Elections Division, Office of the County Clerk of the County of Kauai; Office of the County Clerk of the County of Maui; Common Cause Hawaii; Pono Hawaii Initiative; and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 136, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, established the first vote-by-mail system for all elections held in the State beginning with the 2020 primary election.  However, your Committee further finds that there are areas where no voter service center will be established due to an inability to obtain the necessary facilities or personnel to support the operation of a voter service center for ten business days.  This measure will allow for flexible hours for additional voter service centers, thereby ensuring that all counties are provided equal opportunities to vote.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that for a county with more than one island in its jurisdiction, there shall be at least one voter service center on each island; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2137, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2137, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair