STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1631
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.C.R. No. 117
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 117, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER TO CONVENE AN ELECTIONS PARTICIPATION TASK FORCE TO PROPOSE A PLAN TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS, TARGETING BOTH REGISTERED VOTERS WHO DO NOT VOTE AND ELIGIBLE VOTERS WHO ARE NOT REGISTERED,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish a task force to consider new voting procedures designed to increase voter registration and voter turnout.
No testimony was taken by your Committee. However, the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Affairs, at its hearing, received testimony in support of this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Voting and Democracy, and Common Cause Hawaii.
Your Committee agrees with Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Affairs that:
(1) Hawaii has the lowest voter turnout of any state in the United States. With such low voter turnout the entire State suffers, because our elected officials may not truly represent all of the people of the State;
(2) There are many possible causes for Hawaii's low rates of voter registration and voter turnout. The task force proposed by this measure will serve an important function, to consider new voting procedures designed to increase citizen participation in our democratic government; and
(3) Recent years have seen a significant increase in voter confusion at the polls, and as a result the number of spoiled ballots has increased as well. The task force will consider whether using single-party ballots, rather than the multi-party ballot currently employed, will reduce voter confusion. In addition, the task force should consider any additional steps that can be taken to reduce the number of spoiled ballots.
Your Committee believes that the right to vote is too important to be left to happenstance and circumstance, particularly in view of the new U.S. Census that indicates an increase in the State's population. Your Committee is particularly concerned about voting patterns and availability of a nearby polling place (such as a public school) in new suburban communities and in the remote rural areas of the Neighbor Islands.
Your Committee asks that the task force also consider mail-in voting and e-mail type voting, which some other states have initiated.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 117, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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____________________________ BRIAN KANNO, Chair |
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