STAND. COM. REP. NO.3296
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2843
S.D. 2
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:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"
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:
(1) All special elections to be conducted by mail;
(2) Ballot recounts in close contests;
(3) Separate ballots for each party; and
(4) A public office to be forfeited as of the date of conviction of the office holder, instead of at the time of sentencing.
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.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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