STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3360

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2590

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016 and late voter registration, including on Election Day, beginning in 2018.

 

     The measure also appropriates an unspecified amount for the counties to implement the measure, which may include upgrading the registration process by purchasing electronic poll books.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Elections, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Common Cause Hawaii, and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.  Written comments in opposition were received from the City and County of Honolulu Office of the City Clerk.  The County of Maui Office of the County Clerk, County of Hawaii Office of the County Clerk, and County of Kauai Office of the County Clerk submitted written comments on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has historically suffered from low voter turnout.  Your Committee believes that this measure will create a more accessible voter registration process, thereby facilitating higher voter turnout rates.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that persons applying for registration shall submit evidence of residency, which includes the street address of the person's residence;

 

     (2)  Deleting references to "under oath" in regards to the signing of a self-subscribing affidavit of residency;

 

     (3)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair