REPORT TITLE:
Blank Votes; Counting


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes that blank, spoiled, or invalid ballots are not to be
counted, but a blank vote on one office to be filled or question
or issue to be voted on does not invalidate or spoil votes cast
on remaining issues on a ballot.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           2361
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO BLANK VOTES.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Section 11-151, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended to read as follows:
 
 3      "§11-151  Vote count.  Each contest or question on a ballot
 
 4 shall be counted independently as follows:
 
 5      (1)  If the votes cast in a contest or question are equal to
 
 6           or less than the number to be elected or chosen for
 
 7           that contest or question, the votes for that contest or
 
 8           question shall be counted.
 
 9      (2)  If the votes cast in a contest or question exceed the
 
10           number to be elected or chosen for that contest or
 
11           question, the votes for that contest or question shall
 
12           not be counted.
 
13      (3)  [If a contest or question requires a majority of the
 
14           votes for passage, any] Any blank, spoiled, or invalid
 
15           ballot shall not be [tallied] counted for passage or as
 
16           votes cast except that [such ballots shall be counted
 
17           as votes cast in ratification of a constitutional
 
18           amendment.] a blank vote on one office to be filled or
 
19           one question or issue to be voted on shall not
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           2361
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1           invalidate or spoil the votes casts on the ballot on
 
 2           any other office to be filled or questions or issues to
 
 3           be voted on."
 
 4      SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
 5 New statutory material is underscored.
 
 6      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval and
 
 7 upon ratification of a constitutional amendment prohibiting the
 
 8 counting of blank, spoiled, or invalid ballots as votes cast in
 
 9 authorizing the convening of a constitutional convention or
 
10 ratification of a proposed constitutional amendment.
 
11 
 
12                       INTRODUCED BY:  ___________________________