Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2843, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend certain aspects of the election law. More specifically, this bill requires:

Your Committee finds that the election issues reflected in this bill have been of concern to many voters because of close election results, confusion about Hawaii's open primary, and recent developments over the unfortunate behavior of a few elected public officials. Your Committee notes that Hawaii's low ranking in electoral participation among the states may be partially explained by the nonresolution of some of these issues. In addition, the 2000 national presidential race also put a spotlight on the need for a means to resolve close election results.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying the definition of "special elections" in section 1 by exempting special primary, special general, and special non-partisan elections from being conducted solely by mail.

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. 2843, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2843, S.D. 2.